In today’s world, getting a degree isn’t the only way to making your entrepreneurial dream a reality. Jennifer talks with Claire Coder, a 21-year-old college dropout and founder/CEO of the wildly successful Aunt Flow. Her company provides high-quality menstrual products to a variety of schools, businesses, and organizations, and donates thousands more to women in need across the country.

• So, where did it all start? Claire takes us back to her high school days and tells Jennifer about the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey: starting a promotional products company at the age of 16.
• Claire was destined for sales. After becoming a top seller on Etsy and having a blast running her modest company, she realized her passion lay in the entrepreneurial world.
• The ultimate question for a young mind: where are you going after high school? For Claire, that question has always meant college. But knowing academia wasn’t where she would thrive, Claire kept her eyes on the horizon for any new opportunity.
• Sometimes inspiration can come from those day-to-day experiences that throw a wrench in your gears. While attending a 54-hour entrepreneur hackathon weekend and realizing that the bathroom had no menstrual products whatsoever, Claire knew something could be done. And thus, Aunt Flow was born.
• Why is better access to menstrual products so important? Claire drops the facts: in the United States, menstrual products are not covered by food stamps or by the SNAP and WIC programs and as a consequence 16 million women living at or below the poverty line don’t have dependable access to tampons and pads. In a woman’s lifetime, she will spend an average of $3000 dollars on tampons and pads, many of them subpar and overpriced.
• After learning about how menstrual products are made with highly dangerous ingredients like chlorine bleaches, synthetic fabrics, and dyes, Claire was driven to create a sustainable and accessible alternative. Aunt Flow now manufactures 100% organic cotton tampons and pads, and sells them to businesses and companies, which they then provide to their students, guests and employees in their bathrooms and restrooms.
• Every new endeavor requires sacrifices and compromise. Claire describes the contentious choice to drop out of school to start Aunt Flow, and what the first months and years of her business were like. From product sourcing, to building a website, to learning how to become an adult, Claire built up her business over two years before finally launching sales.
• In 2016, where does a college dropout working 3 waitressing jobs get the kind of funding to start a company? The answer was, naturally: crowdfunding. Using her experience running crowdfunding campaigns at her marketing day job, Claire raised $25,000 to purchase Aunt Flow’s first product run.
• So where did the name Aunt Flow come from? Jennifer asks Claire about the origin story of the name and how she turned an old-fashioned euphemism into a winning brand identity.
• For ridiculous reasons, most people don’t like talking about menstruation, but Claire is all about speaking frankly. Jennifer asks Claire about her outspoken nature and how that has played into her life’s journey so far. Claire talks about her work as a nude model for artists, and how that experience has helped her embrace both her body and her self going forward.
• Today, Aunt Flow currently serves over a hundred businesses and organizations but its beginnings were more humble. Claire talks about Aunt Flow’s early individual subscription model and how it eventually enabled the business to transition into the B2B space. Claire also describes the values that she held onto from the very beginning, when the company still operated on the subscription model: for every Aunt Flow box purchased, one was donated to a person in need in the United States.
• Aunt Flow now serves some very large organizations and companies, from Fortune 500’s to major universities. Jennifer asks Claire about how she secured her biggest clients and how these large accounts enable Aunt Flow to donate tens of thousands of menstrual products a year. Last year, Aunt Flow donated 100,000 menstrual products. This year, Claire is shooting to donate half a million.
• As a young woman in the business world, asking for what you want, riding out the no, and learning when and how to ask again is the not-so-secret to success. Claire fills us in on her philosophy of business and how it has enabled her company to secure great clients, as well as high-profile media attention.
• When it comes to the brand, Claire is the charismatic face and voice of Aunt Flow. Claire discusses the decision to use her personal profile to push conversations about menstruation into the mainstream via CEO-focused media coverage. She also talks about the more challenging aspects of being a young business woman, and how sometimes both a combination of ageism and sexism can rear its head in both client and investor interactions.
• As a young entrepreneur, what advice does Claire have for other young change makers trying to make the world a better place? Here’s her 2-part breakdown:
  • Just Google it! Use the power of the information age to your advantage and don’t be afraid to research.
  • Make a Big Ask. If you can’t find the right answer or person for your problem, don’t be afraid to get straight to the point.
• Everyone has role models or trailblazers they look to for inspiration. Claire talks about the success of Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, as well as her advisors at Aunt Flow.
• How does Claire feel about not finishing college? Despite some mild FOMO about dormitory experiences or collective school pride, Claire has no regrets. Would she recommend her path to others? Well, figuring out whether or not college is for you is a lot cheaper if you’re not in college.

Staying nimble and agile will take you a long way – in business and in life. Jennifer catches up with her friend Mary Ellen Slayter, pivot master and CEO of Reputation Capital Media Services, LLC, a B2B content marketing agency based out of Baton Rouge. As a successful working wife and loving mother, Mary Ellen has made a huge impact in her field and in the lives of her family, friends and community.

• The life of Mary Ellen Slayter is a story like no other. Jennifer asks Mary Ellen about how she got to where she is and what she does; she gives Jennifer the lowdown on the work that her new company Reputation Capital Media Services (Rep Cap) is doing, her undergraduate days of studying soil, and tells the story of how she started her career in journalism. Mary Ellen also forwards a convincing case for why kids still need good math and algebra skills in today’s world.
• After working as part-time copy editor for the financial desk of the Washington Post, Mary Ellen landed an advice column with a unique pitch. Mary Ellen gives us a look into some of the seeds of her later career that were planted with her fresh approach to the column.
• To fully commit to a career change is no easy feat. Mary Ellen describes diving into her new career in journalism and talks about her early interest in the founding theories and philosophies of modern journalism.
• Like many others, Mary Ellen saw the digital future of journalism coming fast. While the Post was still largely focused on print, Mary Ellen moved to the digital-savvy SmartBrief and stayed on for three years. Her life eventually took her from Washington back to Baton Rouge where she received some bad news on her daughter’s birthday that came to be a blessing in disguise.
• With her future uncertain, Mary Ellen’s business idea now had ample room to be cultivated. Mary Ellen got a fateful call from Jennifer Benz of Benz Communication who didn’t call with an offer, but with a challenge.
• Sometimes the first steps of a new venture can be the most daunting. Mary Ellen gives Jennifer an idea of what the first few weeks of Rep Cap looked like, how she got her first client, and how her small up-and-coming business evolved into a fully-fledged agency.
• Mary Ellen considers herself a connector. If she can’t help people, she wants to get people connected with others who can. Mary Ellen and Jennifer talk about how relationships play a key role in developing a new business.
• How in the world do you make HR tech, financial services and insurance services sexy? Mary Ellen talks about how her work has changed over time, from writing blog posts and running client social media to full-on digital marketing strategy consulting. She also talks about how the landscape has shifted in the last six years since Rep Cap was started.
• As a marketer, what should you be focusing on? Jennifer asks Mary Ellen for her thoughts on what marketing and content managing folks should be thinking about when trying to get their business, brand or personal profile out into a changing landscape. She offers a handful of rich takeaways based on her experience and observations of emerging trends in her field.
• Is a series of pivots actually just a full-on spin? Jennifer asked Mary Ellen about what Rep Cap’s work looks like now and what might be next moving forward. Mary Ellen talks about the importance of learning new things in the constantly shifting market landscape of the 21st century.
• As you can tell, Mary Ellen is no stranger to cultivating new ideas, skills, knowledge, and people. Jennifer asks Mary Ellen about her progressive ideas in building a positive workplace culture at Rep Cap such as fully paid maternity leave and pay transparency.
• Smashing goals is Mary Ellen’s bread and butter. Now that Rep Cap has achieved beyond what she imagined, what’s next in the pipeline? Mary Ellen talks about participating in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and how that helped her envision and create a 10-year plan for her business. She also talks about her plans to write a career advice book specifically for writers.
• It’s safe to say, more than ever before, we are living in the age of the pivot. Jennifer asks Mary Ellen about what the future of work looks like and the importance of a willingness to learn, staying nimble, and keeping your eyes open.

Resources and Links

Mary Ellen Slayter LinkedIn

Mary Ellen Slayter Twitter

Rep Cap | B2B Content Marketing Agency

Managing Editor digital magazine

Jennifer Benz – Benz Communications

Scott Eblin

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program

LivePlan: Online Business Plan Software

6 Tips For Developing Executive Presence

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When it comes to making an impact, nobody brings the fire like Tim Sackett. Jennifer catches up with her old friend and firebrand who isn’t afraid to say, blog and write what’s on his mind. As outspoken leader in his field, with 20 years of top-level HR and talent experience, Tim shares what he’s learned working as a talent and HR wizard.

• Who is Tim Sackett? And why the heck is he so happy? Jennifer asks Tim a little bit about himself and how he entered the recruiting business through his family. Tim tells Jennifer about memories of his mother’s recruiting calls, getting fired by her, and his return to the business after some time in the HR corporate world.
• Tim’s mom is cut from some rock-hard stuff. Jennifer asks Tim about how she came to start her recruiting company and how she influenced him. Tim tells the story of his more immature and egotistical days, why he was axed by his mom, and how he made his way to corporate HR.
• How do you spark a passion for HR? Tim talks about how the reward of being able to help people more directly, the challenges of a new field and a deeper sense of camaraderie sucked him into the HR world.
• While Tim had a history of playing it fast and loose in the workplace, the corporate world demanded an adjustment in temperament. Jennifer asks Tim about how he cooled his heels for the better and who has helped him along the way, personally and professionally. Tim relays his experience working in HR at Applebee’s and how he learned the value of talent strengthening and critical feedback.
• What inspired Tim to pick up the quill? Tim tells the tale of how he came to writing and blogging, and his experience writing for Kriss Dunn’s The HR Capitalist. He also talks about the therapeutic value of writing in his own voice and how his practice has translated into bonuses for his professional career.
• According to Mama Sackett, blogging and speaking engagements are just more ways to give away the secret sauce. Tim discussing how his drive to help others has informed his open and friendly approach to giving advice and sharing knowledge.
• Practical, hilarious and brave; the Tim Sackett voice doesn’t sound like anything else. Jennifer asks Tim about the most controversial thing he’s written and he talks about why he doesn’t shy away from topics like race and gender in the workplace.
• While it might seem innocent, the tale of how Tim Sackett became The Workplace Hugging Expert is juicier than expected. Tim fills us in on the details of his 15 minutes of fame turned icebreaker comedy skit.
• Blogging is one thing but publishing a book is a whole new ball-game. Jennifer asks Tim about his process for making the jump from the web to the printed page and what it’s like to be an author.
• Tim is notorious for being a fountain of advice. Jennifer asks Tim about the best advice his mother has given him and the greatest advice he would give to his sons.

Tim Sackett

Tim Sackett Website

Tim Sackett LinkedIn

Tim Sackett Twitter

Fistful of Talent

Book (affiliate link):

The Talent Fix: A Leader’s Guide To Recruiting Great Talent

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettiman hosts a podcast called Let’s Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

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When the market moves as fast and Donald Trump tweets, how should we think about money in the digital age? Jennifer talks with psychologist and behavioral finance expert Dr. Daniel Crosby about his life story and how he has built a career helping both individual investors and institutional clients understand themselves and the psychology of the market.

• For Daniel Crosby, the beginning of the story started with an ending. Daniel tells Jennifer the story of how he came into the world on the day of his grandfather’s passing and how that has driven him to live his life to its fullest potential.
• An important part of leading a rich and full life is to always be learning. Daniel talks about how his love for learning and how his academic education laid the groundwork for developing his interpersonal skills which were key to his success later in life.
• As the son of an investment manager and advisor, the stability and comfort of his father’s profession was an alluring one. But after serving a mission through his church in the Philippines and helping a close friend weather an eating disorder, Daniel shifted his academic path towards helping people.
• How do some people with so little manage to find joy in their lives? Jennifer gets Daniel to flex his clinical psychology skills and asks him why some people blessed with great privileges can’t seem to find the same happiness of some people living a simpler or rougher life. He also talks about his own success and his approach to being happy.
• What drove Daniel to fly straight into graduate school? Jennifer asks Daniel a bit more about his trajectory towards becoming an impactful force in people’s lives. He talks about the value of therapy and why building a strong relationship between therapist and client beats out any high-level degree or specialized school of thought.
• Misconceptions about therapy and the therapeutic process are a dime a dozen. Daniel does some mythbusting and distils some of what he’s learned as a therapist into some takeaways for listeners that they can use in their personal and professional lives.
• Whether it’s for work, in our relationships or just in our day-to-day lives, we all talk about ourselves. Jennifer and Daniel talk about why being able to talk about yourself and your feelings openly and authentically with a trusted professional is so important is our society.
• After being burnt out by individual therapy work, Daniel moved on to workplace-focused psychology work in Atlanta. While doing pre-employment assessments across the Deep South, he learned some hard truths about competence, wealth, meritocracy and the under-recognized value of general intelligence.
• You’re not that great. Daniel fills us in on one of the key moments of his journey to becoming an impact-maker: a 2011 TEDx talk in Huntsville, Alabama about 7 counter-intuitive truths for living a better and more meaningful life. This talk eventually turned into a self-published book of the same name (check out the links below).
• “Only as we accept our normality, are we able to build something that is better than normal.” Daniel talks about the central message of his book, the concept of overconfidence bias and how it keeps us back from achieving our fullest potential.
• In late 2009 – in the swell of the recession – Daniel set out on his own to get away from his rough day job. His new behaviorist economics consultancy called Nocturne Capital offers a wealth of services around the psychology of investment decision making.
• Jennifer asks the question on all of our minds: so how should we think about money? Daniel offers some of the insights he’s gathered over the years helping people understand and navigate financial markets. Daniel shares a couple tidbits with Jennifer but you can find all 10 of his investing commandments in his book The Laws of Wealth, named the best investment book of 2017.
• If you’ve been listening to this week’s episode so far, you’ll know that Dr. Crosby is a man of quick wit. Jennifer asks Daniel where he gets his funny bone from and how it finds its way into his work.

Links and Resources:

Dr. Daniel Crosby on LinkedIn

Dr. Daniel Crosby on Twitter

Nocturne Capital LLC

Daniel’s Podcast: Money, Mind and Meaning (iTunes)

Books Referenced:

The Laws of Wealth: Psychology and the Secret to Investing Success by Daniel Crosby

Personal Benchmark: Integrating Behavioral Finance and Investment Management by Charles Widger & Daniel Crosby

The Behavioral Investor by Daniel Crosby

Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out Of The Box by The Arbinger Institute

Dr. Daniel Crosby TEDx Talks

You’re Not That Great: A Motivational Speech (TEDxHuntsville

TEDxHuntsville – Daniel Crosby – You’re Not That Great: A Motivational Speech

Sex, Funds, & Rock N’ Roll – Daniel Crosby at TEDxHuntsville

Can being weird make you rich and happy? – Daniel Crosby at TEDxBYU

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Want to raise your game at work?

If you want to raise your game at work, you’ve got to raise your impact. Find out Jennifer’s 10 best strategies to make more of an impact at work.