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What if the fastest way to grow wasn’t fear or control, but compassion?

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Dr. Bruno, TEDx speaker, researcher, and author of The Art of Compassionate Business, joins Chelsey Reynolds to explore how trust, generosity, and empathy create a flywheel of performance that benefits employees, customers, and leaders alike.

You’ll hear from his research:

• why fear-based management backfires,
• how to build a culture where people actually want to stay, and
• why serving instead of selling turns customers into your loudest advocates.

Whether you’re leading a startup team or scaling a global org, this episode shows why compassion is more than a nice-to-have; it’s a growth strategy.

To learn more:

Read the Art of Compassionate Business

Visit: www.brunocignacco.com

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Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !

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Wendy Jensen spent decades leading corporate teams and strategy in a fast-paced environment at a major internet company. Then she walked away to start something entirely her own— a purpose-driven retail and lifestyle brand rooted in Scandinavian values, family heritage, and genuine human connection.

In this episode, Wendy joins host Chelsey Reynolds to share how she left executive leadership to build Scandinavian Hearts, a business that brings joy and meaning into people’s lives through design, storytelling, and intentional growth. They talk about the mindset shifts required to move from corporate leadership to creative entrepreneurship, how to find purpose after burnout, and why it’s okay (and often powerful) to start small and grow on your own terms.

Whether you're a founder seeking clarity, a leader ready for reinvention, or a dreamer wondering what’s next, this episode will challenge your assumptions about success and leave you inspired to lead with heart.

Topics Covered:

• Purpose-driven brand strategy
• Corporate to entrepreneurship transitions
• Founder burnout and reinvention
• Scandinavian lifestyle and slow living
• Building a brand with values and story
  
  

Follow Wendy's journey:

Wendy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyjangaard/

Learn and shop: https://scandinavianhearts.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scandinavianhearts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScandinavianHearts/

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wendy-Jangaard-Jensen/author/B0BJ9QQZX8,

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Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !

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When sales, finance, and operations pull in different directions, growth stalls. But when those teams align, momentum builds fast.

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Marcus Rien (scratch golfer, COO, and CFO turned founder of Waves CPAs) to explore how founders can create operational clarity, unlock faster decision-making, and build systems that support scale.

Marcus unpacks real-world examples of silo breakdowns and shares a powerful model for fractional CFO support that integrates with go-to-market teams.

You’ll walk away with insights into cash flow strategy, automation tips, and how to make your numbers actually useful across departments.

00:00 The Importance of Alignment in Business Functions
03:03 The Role of Finance in Business Success
05:07 Implementing Effective Collaboration Strategies
07:37 The Integrator's Role in Company Dynamics
09:57 Consequences of Misalignment in Departments
11:58 The Impact of Overselling on Company Culture
14:38 Leveraging Financial Insights for Growth
17:31 Creating Accountability Through Data
19:56 The Dangers of Fudging Numbers
23:14 The Psychology of Sales Teams
25:33 Operations and Customer Feedback
27:10 Collaboration Across Functions
27:47 Financial Performance and Sales Strategy
31:32 Balancing Optimism in Forecasting
34:19 Cohesion in Business Functions
36:33 Aligning Sales, Operations, and Finance

Check out Waves CPAs here: https://wavescpas.com/

Stay in the know with all-things Growth Department:

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Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !

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In this transformative episode, host Chelsey Reynolds sits down her own coach, Carri Scuba, executive coach and founder of Core Vision Concepts.

They dive deep into what coaching really is, how to know if it’s for you, and why more high-achievers are turning to coaching to regain clarity, balance, and power in both work and life.

Carri shares her personal journey of walking away from corporate burnout to become a full-time coach, her take on the difference between coaching, therapy, mentoring, and consulting, and how to live from possibility instead of predictability.

Whether you're an overwhelmed executive, an aspiring leader, or simply ready to stop living on autopilot, this conversation will help you tap into your own transformation.

✨ Topics include:

• Signs you might benefit from a coach
• How to vet a legit (non-scammy) coach
• One-on-one vs. group coaching
• Emotional burnout and work-life imbalance
• The magic of responsibility over victimhood
• Tools to create change that actually sticks
  
  

Learn how executive coaching can shift your mindset, elevate your leadership, and bring real, lasting change to your career—and your life.

📲 Connect with Carri: CoreVisionConcepts.com

Other resources mentioned:

International Coaching Federation (ICF)

Ceresa Mentoring

Intend2Lead

Stay in the know with all-things Growth Department:

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Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !

Send us a text

Can a business scale without sacrificing the soul of its founder?

According to Rochel Marie Lawson, an Ayurvedic nurse practitioner, wellness entrepreneur, and founder of Blissful Living for You, the answer is yes.

In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds and Rochel explore how holistic wellness and energy alignment are not just feel-good extras, but essential tools for long-term success. Drawing from ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, Rochel shows us how business leaders can tap into their unique essence, detox their minds and bodies, and reconnect with purpose at every stage of growth.

You’ll learn how dosha types can inform your leadership style, how spiritual micro-practices can help you avoid burnout, and why small daily rituals can unlock more clarity, focus, and profit in your business.

Episode Chapters:
00:00 — Intro: Meet the Queen of Feeling Fabulous
02:00 — From ER Nurse to Ayurvedic Practitioner
05:45 — What is Ayurveda and Why Should Founders Care?
10:00 — The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection at Work
13:45 — How to Start a Spiritual Practice Without the Overwhelm
17:20 — Discovering Your Dosha and Aligning with Your Natural Strengths
24:00 — Turning Passion into Profit with Soul-Aligned Strategy
29:45 — Detoxification as a Business Growth Tool
34:10 — How to Lead and Glow: Wellness Tips for Busy Founders
40:00 — Daily Affirmations, Breathwork, and Energy Shifts
44:00 — Rochel’s Advice for Anyone Ready to Transform

If you’ve ever felt stuck, scattered, or out of sync while building your business, this episode will help you reconnect with what matters and realign your energy for sustainable, soulful growth.

Want to discover your dosha? Head to blissfulliving4u.com and take Rochel’s free quiz to start your journey.

Follow Rochel's journey on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Stay in the know with all-things Growth Department:

Website | LinkedIn | TikTok | YouTube | X

Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !

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If your business isn’t showing up on Google, you’re missing more than just a few clicks, my dear!

In this episode, digital marketing expert Sean Boyle breaks down exactly how to set up and protect your Google Business Profile so you can rank higher, attract local customers, and avoid the dreaded “suspension” message that’s catching even experienced business owners off guard.

We cover:

• Step-by-step instructions for setting up your Google profile correctly (and why it matters)
• The #1 mistake that gets small businesses suspended
• What to do right now if your profile gets flagged or taken down
• How to build credibility with Google (and your customers) through reviews
• The biggest myths about SEO, map rankings, and Google visibility
• How to prep your business for the future of AI-powered search
  
  

Whether you're a brick-and-mortar business, a service provider, or a remote-first company, this episode will help you get found and stay found.

🛠 Learn more about Sean’s work: needmomentum.com
📩 Subscribe for more growth tips: growthdepartment.com

Guest: Sean Boyle, Co-Founder of Momentum Digital & Momentum 360

Stay in the know with all-things Growth Department:

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Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !

Send us a text

Why do so many product launches crash and burn, even when demand is through the roof? In this episode, we’re breaking down the real difference between hype and long-term growth with Michael Dodsworth, founder and CEO of Fanfare.

Michael has helped some of the biggest names in ticketing, retail, and e-commerce turn chaotic drops into scalable growth systems. From Taylor Swift ticketing meltdowns to sneaker bots and $200 cookies, he shares what it actually takes to pull off a high-demand launch without crashing your site or frustrating your best customers.

We cover:

• Why so many brands waste valuable drop data
  
  
• How to turn failed purchases into loyal customers
  
  
• The psychology behind scarcity, exclusivity, and fandom
  
  
• What smaller brands can learn from Liquid Death, Cronuts, and Dr. Squatch
  
  
• How to test demand before you over-invest
  
  
• What Fanfare is doing to democratize drop commerce for creators and startups

If you're a founder, marketer, or creator thinking about using launches to grow your audience, this episode is your blueprint.

🎧 Learn more about Fanfare: fanfare.io
📩 Get weekly growth insights: growthdepartment.com

Stay in the know with all-things Growth Department:

Website | LinkedIn | TikTok | YouTube | X

Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !

Send us a text

What is marketing, really? If your answer is “social media” or “getting more leads,” this conversation will reset your perspective.

On this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey sits down with marketing strategist Tamara Ceman to unpack the invisible side of marketing. This is the foundational work that makes campaigns stick and businesses grow. They dive into audience research, positioning, go-to-market strategy, and how to make your first marketing hire with confidence.

If you’ve ever said “I need more leads” without building a marketing foundation, OR if you’re a marketer struggling to explain your value to skeptical leaders, this episode is for you.

Here’s what you’ll hear inside:

• Why most founders misunderstand marketing and how to reframe it
  
  
• The invisible work behind messaging, positioning, and customer research
  
  
• Signs it’s time to hire your first marketing role and what to look for
  
  
• Why tactics by themselves rarely lead to sustainable growth
  
  
• How marketers can rebuild trust with leadership teams
  
  
• Why marketing is a cost of doing business, not an optional extra
  
  

This episode blends tough love with practical advice, giving founders and marketers a clear path to building systems that create growth.

🎧 Tune in if you’re ready to stop throwing spaghetti at the wall and start building real marketing that works.

Stay in the know with all-things Growth Department:

Website | LinkedIn | TikTok | YouTube | X

Each week, we interview founders, business leaders, and experts in their field about how to grow a business and the personal growth that comes with the journey. #LetsGrow !