Mastering Business Skills

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, Erin and Sharon talk with Jennifer Cresswell, founder of ThoughtGro, about building a business that is scalable, sellable, and sustainable. Jennifer shares how business owners can create more time, more money, and more freedom by strengthening communication, improving operations, and plannin...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, Sharon and Erin talk with writer, developmental editor, and flower farmer Diane Riis, owner of Earth and Soul Women, a holistic project that includes a legacy flower farm, live and virtual women’s circles, retreats, and classes on writing, intuition, and creativity. Diane shares how she weav...

In this conversation, Erin and Sharon share candid stories about their first mentors, including the intimidation, the breakthroughs, and the deep confidence that grew from being supported by someone a few steps ahead. They talk about how mentors have shown up as coaches, clients, and peers over the years, often becoming friends who help...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, hosts Sharon Savage and Erin Alli sit down with Humza Adam, founder and CEO of H-Factor Solutions, a revenue growth acceleration firm specializing in B2B sales training, sales and marketing strategy, and high-value sales systems. Humza shares how he’s helped organizations generate over $5B in revenue, and how small and mid-sized businesses can use the same strategic thinking, systems, a...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, hosts Sharon Savage and Erin Alli talk with Debra Angilletta, a former Wall Street trader turned fractional CFO, about how to turn “cash chaos” into cash clarity using simple systems that make profit predictable. Debra shares how to uncover hidden profit leaks, manage cashflow intentionally, and implement practical money management habits that help small business owners pay themselves m...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, hosts Sharon Savage and Erin Alli sit down with author, speaker, and small-business champion Shawna Suckow. They talk about how small businesses can stand out, show up more human, and attract their exact right customers in today’s noisy marketplace by moving away from stiff “performative professionalism”. How instead using real stories, personality, and values to connect with their audi...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, Nicole shares how she grew Empower Virtually from a one‑woman operation in 2023 into a thriving global VA agency that matches business owners with executive and administrative support across sectors like coaching, law, and healthcare. She explains how being overbooked with a client waitlist ...

In this episode, Stephanie shares how she went from running an online membership community to becoming a “Community Steward” at Exchange, and why she chose that title instead of the traditional “community manager.” She explains Exchange’s community-centered framework, where the wisdom is in the room, and how appreciative inquiry and int...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, Sharon and Erin sit down with Marc Pickard, co-founder and CEO of CB Tech Support, a New Jersey-based IT company helping small and mid-sized businesses get the fullest benefit from their technology. Marc shares how a lifelong love of tech and a background in art led him into the IT world and...

In this episode, Mitch shares how he went from “accidental attorney” to seasoned business owner, why so many entrepreneurs get stuck trying to do everything themselves, and what changes when you start delegating on purpose instead of as a last resort. He talks about building his solo practice, adding partners and staff, then intentional...

In this energizing episode, hosts Sharon Savage and Erin Alli welcome Alison Simmons, founder and CEO of Lead Smarter Co., and creator of the Seven Figure CEO System. Alison shares her transformation from offering online business management services to creating innovative, AI-driven solutions for entrepreneurs and small business owners....

As we begin to wrap up our first season of Mastering Business Skills, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to you, our amazing listeners. Your support, feedback, and the stories of how certain episodes sparked new ideas or inspired change in your businesses have meant the world to us. What started as a show for practical business a...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, hosts Sharon Savage and Erin Alli welcome Pauleen Murphy, founder of Politan Marketing and seasoned fractional chief marketing officer. Pauleen shares her expertise in helping founder-led businesses scale more effectively, covering everything from emotional leadership transitions to the syst...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, hosts Sharon Savage and Erin Alli are joined by Erika Dickstein, CEO of Spring Insight, a forward-thinking marketing strategy firm. Erika dives deep into the evolving landscape of digital marketing, from the rise of AI-driven search to the persistent challenges of maintaining meaningful onli...

Warning: Some adult language used. Please use headphones if you have littles around!

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, hosts Sharon Savage and Erin Alli sit down with Maggy Sterner, an expert brand messaging coach known for her s...

In this episode, Sharon Savage and Erin Alli sit down with Bill Duguay, executive coach and former CEO, to unpack what it really means to lead effectively, without carrying the weight alone. Bill shares how his journey from civil engineer to construction leader laid the groundwork for his no-nonsense, field-tested approach to leadership...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, we sit down with Rob Manne, founder of Inflectiv, to explore how growing companies can turn their CRM, marketing, and sales tools into real revenue. Rob shares how his team helps businesses optimize platforms like HubSpot and AI to streamline operations, improve forecasting, and make smarter decisions.

From his early days in PR and marketing to building a consultancy that bridges strat...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, we sit down with Thomas Howard, Business Development Director at Brightway Advisors, to explore the intersection of financial operations and authentic relationship-building. With over two decades in banking and a passion for strategic networking, Thomas shares how businesses can move beyond basic bookkeeping to unlock meaningful insights and sustainable growth.

From managing numbers to...

In this episode of Mastering Business Skills, we sit down with Anitra Deen, networking strategist, fractional COO, and founder of Anitra Deen Consulting. Anitra shares how she helps women entrepreneurs and small business owners turn casual connections into strategic business development. From building infrastructure for follow-up to understanding your sales cycle, Anitra offers actionable insights that move businesses from stuck t...