In this episode of The Business of Branding Podcast, Nikki sits down with Michelle Lynn, founder of The Leaguelle and co-founder of the women’s fishing apparel brand Real Skipper. A Cornell Law graduate and experienced entrepreneur, Michelle blends legal expertise with firsthand business knowledge to make trademarking approachable, empowering, and essential for every entrepreneur.

They dive into Michelle’s journey from apparel entrepreneur to trademark attorney, the messy realities of product-based businesses, and the lessons she learned about timing, risk, and brand protection. Michelle breaks down the trademark process step-by-step, shares the biggest mistakes business owners make, and explains why protecting your intellectual property is non-negotiable if you want to grow and scale with confidence.

• Michelle’s unique path from running a women’s fishing apparel brand to building her own modern trademark practice.
• Why trademarking should happen as early as possible (ideally before you launch).
• The difference between broad audiences vs. niche services — and why her narrow focus on trademarks works.
• The realities of apparel entrepreneurship: cash flow, manufacturing hurdles, and financial strain.
• Why “nobody really knows what they’re doing” in business—and why that’s empowering.
• How to navigate the trademark timeline, risk levels, and office actions.
• The hidden costs of avoiding trademarks—like lawsuits, forced rebrands, and investor hesitations.
• Michelle’s biggest lessons from entrepreneurship: the value of confidence, leaning on experts, and laying strong foundations for your brand.

https://www.theleaguelle.com/

https://www.instagram.com/the.lawtrepreneur/

https://www.facebook.com/theleaguelle

Free Trademark Consultation: https://theleaguelle.as.me/businessofbranding

In this episode of The Business of Branding Podcast, Nikki sits down with Ashley Linnane and Tori Overmyer, the co-founders of BreakRoom Marketing, a boutique social media agency redefining what it means to create and manage content with purpose. Together, they share their unconventional paths from hairstyling, teaching, and photography into building a thriving agency rooted in strategy, creativity, and genuine partnership.

You’ll hear candid stories about leaving the coaching industry, navigating burnout, scaling through hiring, and surviving the inevitable rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. They also reveal how they differentiate Break Room in a crowded space by focusing on ROI, creating organic content that feels human, and supporting clients like true business partners—not just content schedulers.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to build an agency, find the right business partner, or scale without losing your integrity, this episode will inspire and ground you.

• How Tori and Ashley co-founded BreakRoom Marketing
• Why burnout in the coaching industry led them to seek more tangible, fulfilling work.
• The importance of partnership in entrepreneurship
• Break Room’s differentiators
• The messy middle of scaling
• Why brand strategy is more important than ever in the age of AI content creation
• Their advice for entrepreneurs just starting out.

• Follow BreakRoom Marketing on Instagram
• Visit the BreakRoom Marketing Website
• Connect with Nikki on Instagram: @nikkiarensman
• Follow The Business of Brand Podcast Instagram

Ready to start your personal brand and kick off your creator journey?! Create your full brand identity including a logo, color palette and font pairings using Brand Identity Breakthrough!

From Palm Beach boutiques to TikTok virality, Holland has mastered the art of pivoting - in business, style, and life. In this episode, Nikki sits down with her longtime friend and fashion content creator, Holland Paterno, to talk about building a thriving brand, navigating the influencer world, and preparing for her biggest role yet: motherhood.

You’ll hear how Holland went from retail jobs and toxic workplaces to creating a sustainable business through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and a whole lot of creative grit. She opens up about hitting the “sweet spot” on TikTok, why she’ll never fully niche down, and how she’s planning her maternity leave while keeping her business running smoothly.

Whether you’re an aspiring content creator, a fashion lover, or a fellow entrepreneur trying to juggle all the things, Holland’s story will inspire you to embrace the pivots, trust your instincts, and build a brand that feels like you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Holland’s path from mattress sales to full-time content creator
• How she built her business through the Amazon Influencer Program & LTK
• The role pivoting plays in sustainable business growth
• Navigating brand partnerships & staying aligned with your values
• Balancing business and motherhood (and what she’s planning for maternity leave)
• Why authenticity and community matter more than follower count

Links & Resources:

• Follow Holland on Instagram: @hollandpaterno
• Shop Holland’s Amazon storefront
• Shop Holland's LTK Storefront
• Connect with Nikki on Instagram: @nikkiarensman
• Follow The Business of Brand Podcast Instagram

This episode was recorded and filmed at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida. If you're looking for a luxury podcasting experience in a top of class studio - that is the place to do it!

Ready to start your personal brand and kick off your creator journey?! Create your full brand identity including a logo, color palette and font pairings using Brand Identity Breakthrough!