Episode 37: Connecting the Dots to Scale — Business Development with Lauren Silverstein

Summary

How do you turn a unique talent or passion into a scalable, revenue-generating business model? In this episode of CEO Sisters Road Trip, hosts Liz Szporn and Sarah Trueman sit down with business developer, educator, and founder Lauren Silverstein. Lauren shares her lifetime fascination with the "world of work" and breaks down how she builds thriving commercial and community-based ventures like Rising Kitchens and Rising Founders. From creating hyper-local marketplaces to using data-backed feedback loops instead of "good intentions," Lauren gives small business owners a masterclass in modern business development.

Key Topics

• The High School Internship Mindset: Why hands-on exploration prevents costly career and business pivots later on.
• Bridging Supply and Demand: How Lauren built Rising Kitchens by connecting local culinary talent with corporate and private catering demand.
• The 3 Core Ingredients of Any Venture: Balancing Sales, Community, and Education to avoid burn-out or running a pure non-profit network.
• The "Success Equation": Why you must start with end goals and outcomes before building marketing strategies or daily tactics.
• Ikigai in Entrepreneurship: Finding the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what pays.
• Hyper-Local Founder Circles: Overcoming founder isolation through structured, collaborative Masterminds.

Action Items & Takeaways

1. Reverse Engineer Your Goals: Write out your target outcome first, define your success metric second, and design your strategy last.
2. Audit Your 3 Pillars: Ensure your business is actively balancing Sales (revenue), Community (connection), and Education (learning/doing).
3. Use the "Whiteboard Method": Maintain a 2-sided board dividing current-month deliverables from long-term strategic dreams.
4. Treat Evaluation as Practice, Not Punishment: View performance feedback and data like a sports film session or theater rehearsal.

Chapters

• 00:00 – Welcome & Introductions
• 01:21 – Gen X Mindsets & Early Business Ventures (Aerobics in the Basement!)
• 03:26 – The Power of Early Business Exploration & High School Internships
• 06:49 – Where Supply Meets Demand: Building a Marketplace Business Model
• 09:36 – Inside Rising Kitchens: Community + Sales Acceleration
• 12:02 – Why Niche Models Work Across Any Industry
• 15:00 – The 3 Pillars of Venture Success: Sales, Community & Education
• 17:03 – How Lauren Allocates Time & Keeps Hyper-Local Founders Connected
• 21:22 – Finding Your "Ikigai" (Reason for Being) as a Business Owner
• 24:09 – Boundary Management, Whiteboards, and Compassionate Scheduling
• 28:45 – Are Good Intentions Enough? Measuring Real Business Impact
• 33:10 – The Success Equation & Reverse-Engineering Growth
• 36:26 – Lauren’s Top Book & Podcast Recommendations
• 40:47 – How to Connect with Lauren & Final Sister CEO Thoughts

Resources & Guest Links

• Website: www.risingkitchens.com
• LinkedIn: Lauren Silverstein
• Instagram: @risingkitchens
• Partner Kitchen Mentioned: Garden State Kitchen (Orange, NJ)
• Recommended Books:
  • Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution by Uri Levine
  • Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz
  • The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman
• Recommended Podcasts: Small Business, Big Money, Powerhouse Women, The Cure for Chronic Pain with Nicole Sachs
  
  
  

Keywords: Business Development, Marketplaces, Small Business Growth, Hyper-Local Entrepreneurship, Female Founders, Rising Kitchens, Success Equation, Ikigai, Business Metrics, CEO Sisters Road Trip

Want to learn more about what working with Liz looks like? Head to Your Business Matters to schedule a Discovery call with her

Ep. 35: Experience vs. Expertise: Why You Don’t Need Kids to Be a Parenting Coach with Kate Garzón

Summary

In this episode, Kate Garzón, a parent educator and founder of Guided Parenting Support, shares her unique approach to parenting coaching, emphasizing the importance of understanding child development and building strong relationships. Liz and Sarah explore how her expertise helps parents and organizations create positive impacts that last.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kate Garzón and Guided Parenting Support

06:00 Kate's background and journey into parenting coaching

12:01 The difference between experience and expertise

20:04 The journey of building a scalable parenting support business

29:59 How understanding child development improves parenting

39:58 Proactive strategies for behavior management

Key Topics

-The difference between experience and expertise in parenting support

-How child development stages inform parenting strategies

-The importance of relationship building and proactive skills

-Scaling parenting support from one-on-one to organizational level

-The impact of parental support on workplace productivity

-Kate's journey from teacher to parent coach during COVID

-The value of understanding neurodivergent children

-How to communicate the value of parenting support to organizations

-The long-term benefits of proactive parenting education

-Kate's approach to coaching and parent education

Sound Bites

"Words matter in parenting and support"

"Relationship building and skill development are the core"

"Children are capable of more than we often realize"

Guest Name

Kate Garzón

Guided Parenting Support - GPS® : www.guidedparentingsupport.com

Instagram: @guidedparentingsupport;

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-garz%C3%B3n-m-ed-00184215b/,

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

Keywords

parenting, child development, coaching, education, work-life balance, organizational impact, parenting strategies, neurodivergent children, professional development, family support

Want to learn more about what working with Liz looks like? Head to Your Business Matters to schedule a Discovery call with her

Summary

In Episode 34 of The CEO Sisters Road Trip, Sarah and Liz dive into why shifting your behavioral patterns and systems matters far more than pushing through burnout or trying to solve every business challenge by working harder. Drawing insights from top business and habit books—including The Gap and the Gain, Atomic Habits, The Coaching Habit, and Profit First—they discuss how to escape constant self-criticism, define your own baseline of success, and build sustainable momentum.

Key topics

• Measuring Backward: Overcoming "the gap" between your current standing and an idealized goal by reflecting on past progress.
• System Design vs. Goals: Establishing small daily habits and clear structures to prevent burnout and power daily execution.
• Identity and Language: Shifting self-talk from "trying to quit/do something" to solid "I am" identity statements.
• Overcoming Overwhelm: Recognizing that feeling "stuck" is usually just overwhelm, and resolving it by identifying the single priority for the day.
• The 4 Buckets of Business Growth: Diagnosing bottlenecks across People, Process, Pricing, and Positioning.

Action items & Take aways

• Always Measure Backward (AMB): Build confidence by actively tracking how far you have come rather than measuring against an ever-shifting ideal.
• Design Systems, Not Just Goals: Break down large 90-day targets into manageable, daily micro-actions.
• Monotask over Multitask: Ask yourself each morning: "What is the ONE thing I can complete today to move my business forward?"
• Adopt an "I Am" Identity: Speak about your role and business with ownership (e.g., "I am a business owner" rather than "I am trying to run a business").

Chapters

• 00:16 – Introduction to the CEO Sisters Road Trip
• 00:59 – The Importance of Reading and Learning
• 04:32 – Mindset vs. Grindset: The Power of Measurement
• 07:22 – The Gap and the Gain: Measuring Progress
• 13:17 – Identity and Behavior in Business
• 16:53 – Balancing Creativity and Business
• 19:26 – Shifting Behavioral Patterns for Success
• 22:36 – Overcoming Overwhelm and Prioritization
• 26:50 – The Power of Accountability in Business
• 28:50 – Redefining Identity for Growth
• 31:08 – Understanding the Process Behind Stuckness

Resources

• The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

Links

• Your Business Matters
• Sarah Jane Pottery

Keywords

Mindset, Grindset, Business Coaching, Entrepreneurship, Atomic Habits, The Gap and the Gain, Profit First, Overwhelm, Prioritization, Systems, Business Growth

Want to learn more about what working with Liz looks like? Head to Your Business Matters to schedule a Discovery call with her

EP. 33 - Graduation Overwhelm, Otter Dreams & Beating Burnout

Summary

In this candid episode, sisters Liz Szporn and Sarah Trueman get real about the "invisible workload" female entrepreneurs face during major life transitions. From surviving high school graduation season and college prep, to navigating weird dream anxiety (including giant otter attacks!), Liz and Sarah discuss the emotional, mental, and physical weight of wearing multiple hats.

They unpack the stark reality of female founder burnout—where 65% of women report active burnout compared to 37% of men—and share actionable strategies on how to give yourself grace, ditch people-pleasing, and protect your energy. Learn how implementing the "One Big Thing" method can transform your productivity without sacrificing your sanity.

Key Topics Covered

• Anxiety & Dream Logic: Why stress shows up in bizarre ways (and what Liz’s giant otter dream says about burnout).
• The Invisible Workload: Why 83% of female entrepreneurs report high stress and how family transitions bleed into business bandwidth.
• Making Hard Business Decisions: Sarah shares the relief and power behind stepping back from a major show commitment to prioritize her sanity and family.
• Overcoming People-Pleasing: Breaking free from the fear of disappointing others when setting business boundaries.
• The "One Big Thing" Strategy: A game-changing daily process used to overcome multitasking debt and move your business forward.
• The Power of External Accountability: Hacking your own brain by using peers and community to achieve your goals.

Chapters

• 00:16 – Welcome to CEO Sisters Road Trip
• 01:39 – Weekend Recording & Liz’s Crazy Otter Dream
• 06:40 – Graduation Overwhelm: The Toll of Major Milestones
• 09:15 – Drowning in the "Invisible Workload" & Female Founder Burnout Statistics
• 12:48 – Balancing Family Demands with Growing a Business (Sarah's Story)
• 15:47 – Giving Yourself Grace & Decoupling Guilt from Difficult Decisions
• 20:58 – Overcoming People-Pleasing in Business
• 24:55 – Multitasking Debt: What the Research Says About Middle-Aged Founders
• 28:16 – How to Implement the "One Big Thing" Framework Daily
• 33:39 – Why External Accountability Keeps Us Consistent

Mentioned Resources

• Ink Volt Paper Dashboard / Digital Dashboard
• The Gap and The Gain (Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy)

Links

• Your Business Matters
• Sarah Jane Pottery
• Entrepreneur Magazine: "Why Some Female Entrepreneurs Flourish While Others Burn Out"
• Inc. Magazine: "It's Not the Workload That's Burning Women Founders Out. It's the Pressure"

Keywords

Female Founder Burnout, Invisible Workload, Women Entrepreneurs, CEO Sisters Road Trip, Business Strategy, Overcoming Multitasking Debt, Entrepreneur Work-Life Balance, Small Business Priorities

Want to learn more about what working with Liz looks like? Head to Your Business Matters to schedule a Discovery call with her

Summary

Are you running toward your big business goals, or just running away from burnt-out corporate routines? In this episode of CEO Sisters Road Trip, Sarah and Liz chat with Abby Gates, founder of SproutWise and an HR leader with over 20 years of experience navigating four successful startup exits.

Abby shares her fascinating journey—from taking a solo backpacking trip through Southeast Asia in her late 20s to quitting a high-level executive corporate job during a season of caregiving to launch her own fractional HR firm. Together, they explore why HR isn’t just a "safety net" or "breakroom fluff," but the living foundation of decision-making, company culture, and sustainable scaling. If you’ve ever felt itchy in your career, struggled with taking big leaps, or wondered how to protect your culture before growth breaks your team, this episode is for you!

Key Topics

• The Solo Backpacking Muscle: How a solo trip through Thailand and Bali built self-reliance and transformed Abby’s relationship with risk.
• Amplify vs. Create: Recognizing when you are amplifying someone else’s work versus building something meaningful of your own.
• Caregiving & Career Pivots: Navigating family health crises while negotiating boundaries in corporate leadership.
• HR as a Growth Engine: Why culture isn’t just snacks and foosball tables, but a non-negotiable decision-making matrix.
• The Physical Toll of Misalignment: Listening to your body when stress responses demand a career change.

Chapters & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Episode Intro & Catching Up with Sarah & Liz
• 04:01 – Meet Abby Gates of SproutWise
• 06:53 – Solo Backpacking, Southeast Asia, and Building the "Risk Muscle"
• 20:21 – Overcoming Dread: Advice for Taking the Big Leap
• 28:03 – The Turning Point: Caregiving, Corporate Burnout, & Negotiating an Exit
• 38:30 – Amplifying Work vs. Creating Work
• 46:10 – The Physical Cost of Staying Too Long: Lessons in Self-Care
• 46:30 – What Fractional HR Really Does for Growing Startups
• 51:30 – Where to Connect with Abby & Wrap Up

Resources & Guest Links

• Website: http://www.sproutwise.com/
• Connect with Abby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbygates6/
• Direct Email: abby@sproutwise.com

Keywords

Startup HR, Fractional HR, Scaling a Business, Risk Tolerance, Company Culture, Caregiving and Entrepreneurship, Solo Travel, Business Mindset, CEO Sisters Road Trip.

Want to learn more about what working with Liz looks like? Head to Your Business Matters to schedule a Discovery call with her

Summary

Ever wondered what happens when a seasoned corporate recruiter trades eighty-hour workweeks for a design portfolio she didn't even own yet? In this episode of CEO Sisters Road Trip, Liz and Sarah sit down with Kathleen Penny, the founder of KLP Interiors, to explore her winding entrepreneurial journey. From her early days as an office manager to her bold leap into design school at Moore College of Art and Design, Kathleen’s story is a masterclass in being intentional, inclusive and having the courage to pivot into a whole new world.

Together, the trio dives deep into the high-vibe reality of running a referral-based design business, the emotional toll of being a chronic people-pleaser, how to build a small team based on chemistry, and the real way creative experts can leverage AI as a high-speed "intern" without losing the personal touch.

Key Topics

• The Power of the Pivot: Moving from corporate recruiting to interior design and why careers are circuitous, not linear.
• The "Expert's 10 Minutes": Why high-level spatial awareness and years of intuitive skill are worth premium pricing, even if the on-site fix only takes ten minutes.
• The Double-Edged Sword of People-Pleasing: How caring deeply secures a 95% repeat and referral rate while demanding strict boundaries to avoid burnout.
• Building a Team on Chemistry: The art of hiring in a small business and creating a space where employees grow into new roles naturally.
• Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator: Understanding the distinction between space planning/renovations and finishing a space.
• AI as the Digital Intern: How Kathleen uses AI as a tool to execute her personal, expert prompts instead of letting it dictate design decisions.

Action Items & Takeaways

• Audit Your Experience: Recognize that foundational skills from past "unrelated" jobs (like office management or recruiting) are building blocks for your current CEO journey.
• Protect Your Boundaries: If you're a people-pleaser, delegate tasks and empower your team to handle operations to preserve your mental energy.
• Ditch the Portfolio Imposter Syndrome: Enter pitches or interviews with confidence in your soft skills (like active listening and asking deep questions) rather than just perfect paperwork.

Chapters

• 00:16 - Welcome & Martha Stewart: The Ultimate Entrepreneurial Beacon.
• 02:39 - How Sarah and Kathleen Met: Ornament Booths & Custom Herringbone Mugs.
• 04:46 - Spatial Awareness: The "10-Minute Fix" and Pricing Your Worth.
• 07:33 - Kathleen's Origin Story: From an English Degree to Tech Recruiting.
• 10:49 - The Bold Leap: Moore College of Art and Design & The Circuitous Career.
• 16:37 - Gen X, Boundaries, and the Mental Load of People-Pleasing.
• 22:14 - Team Chemistry & Giving Yourself Permission to Delegate.
• 30:37 - Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Women Supporting Women vs. Mean Girl Drama.
• 34:00 - Education Minute: Interior Designer vs. Decorator.
• 35:27 - Leveraging AI: Working with "The Intern" Without Sacrificing Human Chemistry.
• 43:03 - Where to Find KLP Interiors & The Westchester Studio.

Resources

• GenTelligence: Snap Shots and Strategies for Making the Most of Multi-Generational Workforces (Mentioned by Liz).

Guest Links

• Website: KLP Interiors
• Instagram: @KLPInteriors
• Showroom: Westchester, PA (by appointment or by chance!)

Keywords

Interior Design, Women in Business, Career Pivot, Team Building, Client Referrals, Mindset, Gen X, AI in Design, Female Founders, CEO Sisters, Professional Development.

Want to learn more about what working with Liz looks like? Head to Your Business Matters to schedule a Discovery call with her

Summary

In this episode, Liz and Sarah explore how small businesses can leverage AI to boost efficiency, creativity, and growth. They discuss practical strategies, ethical considerations, and future trends in AI integration, making complex concepts accessible and actionable.

Key topics

• AI integration strategies for small business
• Building a digital mind and digital assets
• Balancing human touch with AI automation

Action items

• Start building your digital mind today by gathering your key assets and creating a framework.
• Practice writing clear prompts to get the best AI outputs.
• Stay curious and keep learning about AI to stay competitive.
• Identify tasks that can be automated to free up your time for strategic work.

Sound bites

"AI isn't just about speed, it's about value"

"Your most precious resource is time"

"Your business matters, and AI can help you grow"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

03:27 The Impact of AI on Business

08:12 AI as a Tool for Efficiency

12:25 Understanding AI's Role in Society

14:52 Keeping Humanity in AI

19:10 The Value of Human Touch in Art

22:25 AI's Role in Business Efficiency

26:20 Boundaries of AI in Customer Interaction

29:36 The Future of Digital Minds in Business

37:18 CEO Sister’s Road Trip Video Outro - 60 seconds v2.mp4

Resources

• Jeff Woods, The AI Driven Leader - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F4XK7X
• Sandy Waggett, MSW Interactive Designs - https://mswinteractivedesigns.com
• Radio Shack (Tandy 500) - https://www.radioshack.com
• Speak and Spell - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speak_%26_Spell

Keywords

AI in business, small business growth, automation, digital transformation, AI strategies, efficiency, digital mind, future of AI, entrepreneurship, technology trends

Want to learn more about what working with Liz looks like? Head to Your Business Matters to schedule a Discovery call with her