Meet Sarah Chen-Spellings: investor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Beyond The Billion—a movement driving capital to female-founded companies. From her Malaysian roots to writing multi-million-dollar checks, Sarah shares how she’s breaking generational cycles and rewriting the rules of legacy and leadership.

In this conversation, we dive into:

✨ Her mother’s influence on her drive
✨ Why women still struggle to get funding—and how she’s changing that
✨ What investors really look for in a pitch
✨ How to own your legacy—even if you're just starting out

We also get real about awkwardness, networking, and social media… and yes, she calls me out (in the best way!).

If you're building a business, raising capital, or dreaming big—this episode will fire you up. 💥

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[00:02] How Jasmine and Sarah met: From Instagram DMs to SXSW keynote magic

[00:04] The generational story: Sarah’s mother’s rise from small-town Malaysia to CEO

[00:07] Why Beyond The Billion matters: Bridging the gender funding gap

[00:10] How to network intentionally (and why stalking amazing women online works!)

[00:14] Advice for female founders seeking funding—and how to pitch investors with confidence

[00:18] The power of partnership: Sarah’s personal and professional lessons on support

[00:23] Biggest myths about women in leadership and money

[00:28] How to think beyond success and start building a legacy

Listen to Related Episodes:

• A Playbook for First-Time Founders with Nancy Twine
• What Investors Are Really Looking For with Kim Perell

Connect With Sarah Chen-Spellings:

Sarah Chen-Spellings is the co-founder of Beyond The Billion, a global consortium dedicated to mobilizing over $1 billion in capital toward women-founded companies. Born and raised in Malaysia, Sarah’s journey took her from corporate boardrooms to the frontlines of venture capital, where she’s become a fierce advocate for underrepresented founders. Named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” Sarah’s work has reshaped conversations around gender, funding, and innovation worldwide.

📧 Join my Newsletter for a weekly cocktail of insider business strategy, personal reflections, and the journey of being a thought leader. 📧

For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode550

Ready to create a powerful brand, high-level marketing strategies, and build systems that scale alongside a group of talented 7-figure entrepreneurs?

I’m hosting a mastermind for 7-figure entrepreneurs who want to build their business to 8-figures (and beyond) alongside others committed to doing the same - if it sounds like a good fit, I’d love to invite you to learn more and apply here: https://jasminestar.com/mastermind

Have you ever sat through a sales pitch thinking you knew what was coming... only to be hit with a $50,000 price tag? 😳 SAME.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on one of the biggest financial decisions I made this year: investing in a professional development program with Gary Vaynerchuk’s team. It was a big leap, a big number, and (spoiler alert!) a BIG shift in how I approach business investments.

If you're wondering whether investing in your growth is worth it, I’m sharing the 3-part framework I use before I spend a dime:

1️⃣ Highlight the Differences: Why every investment must teach me something new.

2️⃣ Access Matters: How the right room can change your life.

3️⃣ Proximity is Power: Why being near greatness accelerates success.

Plus, you’ll hear what I learned from watching Gary Vee behind the scenes, how small gestures reveal leadership, and why “hi” can be a secret business superpower.

Whether you're spending $500 or $50,000, this episode will help you make bolder, smarter investments.

Friend, if you’re in the digging phase—building, dreaming, working before anyone sees it—this is your sign: Keep digging. Keep growing. Your skyscraper moment is coming.

And if you haven’t left a review, consider this your loving nudge. ❤️

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[00:45] Why a $50,000 pitch almost scared me off—and why I leaned in instead

[01:47] The #1 question I ask before making ANY investment

[03:40] How objective-setting and leadership assessments changed my mind

[04:31] Why ACCESS (and warm introductions) are more valuable than any brochure

[06:29] How PROXIMITY alone can change your business trajectory

[08:10] Watching Gary Vee move behind the scenes—and what I learned

[12:17] The biggest leadership lesson I learned from Gary in just 20 seconds

[13:55] My full 3-step framework for making smart, strategic investments

Listen to Related Episodes or Links Mentioned:

• Nonverbal Communication Secrets That Drive Sales and Build Trust with Blake Eastman
• How to Reclaim Your Time and Boost Business Productivity with Nick Sonnenberg
• My 1-1 Call with Gary Vaynerchuck

📧 Join my Newsletter for a weekly cocktail of insider business strategy, personal reflections, and the journey of being a thought leader. 📧

Click >>PLAY<< to listen now!

For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode549

Ready to create a powerful brand, high-level marketing strategies, and build systems that scale alongside a group of talented 7-figure entrepreneurs?

I’m hosting a mastermind for 7-figure entrepreneurs who want to build their business to 8-figures (and beyond) alongside others committed to doing the same - if it sounds like a good fit, I’d love to invite you to learn more and apply here: https://jasminestar.com/mastermind

Feeling stuck digging without seeing results? You’re not alone, friend. In this episode, I share the behind-the-scenes journey of building my business from nothing—no connections, no funding, no experience. Plus, I reveal the mindset shifts that helped me pivot from photographer to CEO and my 1-on-1 convo with Gary Vaynerchuk about building my holding company. If you’re in the foundation phase, this is your reminder: you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Let’s build something incredible. 🚀

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[00:01] Why I almost didn’t say the word “skyscraper” aloud (and why I changed my mind)

[00:53] The deeper the foundation, the taller the structure

[01:49] How I built a six-figure business without a camera

[03:39] The moment I realized consulting was a “thing” (and how it changed my path)

[04:29] From courses to a membership to a tech company

[05:20] Starting a holding company (without knowing what a HoldCo was) (A masterclass in figuring things out while you build.)

[06:18] For the women building against the odds

[09:15] My conversation with Gary Vaynerchuck

Listen to Related Episodes:

• Gary Vaynerchuk’s Growth Accelerator Program: My Experience and Key Takeaways (So Far)
• How to Get Attention and “Embrace the Dirt” for Long-Term Success with Gary Vaynerchuk

📧 Join my Newsletter for a weekly cocktail of insider business strategy, personal reflections, and the journey of being a thought leader. 📧

For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode548

Ready to create a powerful brand, high-level marketing strategies, and build systems that scale alongside a group of talented 7-figure entrepreneurs?

I’m hosting a mastermind for 7-figure entrepreneurs who want to build their business to 8-figures (and beyond) alongside others committed to doing the same - if it sounds like a good fit, I’d love to invite you to learn more and apply here: https://jasminestar.com/mastermind

I used to think I was ahead of the AI game… until my friend Rick Mulready blew my mind. 😅 In this episode, I sit down with Rick—digital marketing expert, business coach, and AI wiz—to talk about how entrepreneurs can actually use AI to grow their business without sounding robotic or getting overwhelmed.

This isn’t your average "AI 101" convo. We’re diving deep and keeping it actionable! Rick and I cover:

• Why most entrepreneurs are using AI backwards (and how to fix it)
• The #1 mindset shift to save HOURS every week
• How to prompt like a pro (yes, it’s a skill!)
• How to use AI to sound MORE like you, not less

Plus, we share how to build AI into your workflow, why starting small matters, and—of course—a few mic-drop mindset moments. 🔥

If you’ve ever opened ChatGPT and thought, “This just isn’t me…”—this episode is for you. Let’s stop letting the overwhelm win and start scaling with clarity. 🚀

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[03:10] Why Most People Use AI Wrong (and How to Flip It)

[07:33] How to Use AI to Save Hours on Weekly Tasks

[10:54] Why You Don’t Need to Learn Everything About AI Right Now

[14:20] The Power of Operational Thinking in AI Workflows

[23:12] How to Prompt Like a Pro and Avoid “Vanilla” Output

[30:18] Jasmine’s Favorite AI Prompting Hack (You’re Gonna Steal This)

[37:40] How to Uplevel Your Team’s Productivity with AI

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Jasminestar.com/Rick (Get 7 days free in Rick’s AI community)
• Rick’s youtube video: Stop Learning Prompt Engineering

Connect With Rick Mulready:

Rick Mulready is a seasoned entrepreneur, business coach, and digital marketing expert with a deep expertise in Facebook ads, online business strategy, and (most recently) AI implementation for entrepreneurs. Formerly running a successful agency and coaching business, Rick took a sabbatical and came back reborn—obsessed with helping small business owners integrate AI into their daily operations in a practical, scalable way.

Find Rick at: www.rickmulready.com

📧 Join my Newsletter for a weekly cocktail of insider business strategy, personal reflections, and the journey of being a thought leader. 📧

Click >>PLAY<< to listen now!

For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode547

There was a time I believed failure wasn’t just something I did—it was who I was.

But that belief got flipped on its head the day I had a transformational conversation with entrepreneur and coach James Wedmore.

In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful clip where James breaks down the real reason so many of us get stuck: we're building businesses with belief systems we picked up as students and employees—ones that no longer serve us.

We unpack:

• Why failure is just feedback (not a flaw)
• How to release identities that keep you small
• What being “coachable” really means (this moment changed me)
• How to rewire beliefs that are holding you back

If you’ve ever feared failure or felt defined by your mistakes, lean in. You’re about to see your story—and your future—differently.

Failure isn’t something to fear. It’s something to celebrate. 💥

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[00:51] Why I defined myself by failure—and how James shifted that narrative

[01:21] James explains how our “model of the world” keeps us stuck

[03:12] The surprising trait James says changed my life (and no one had ever told me before)

[04:25] How our experiences as employees and consumers shape limiting beliefs in business

[05:32] James’ analogy: Why applying football rules to basketball explains why most people struggle in business

[07:49] Why failure must be deconstructed—and fast—for entrepreneurs to succeed

🎧 Listen to the full episode: From Broke Bartender to Million Dollar CEO: A Conversation with James Wedmore

Listen to Related Episodes:

• Three Ways to Remove Comparison and Become Unstoppable
• How to Build Your Self Trust to Make Better Business Decisions
• Building Confidence with Ease: How I’m Becoming the 3X Version of Myself

Connect With James Wedmore:

James Wedmore is a renowned entrepreneur and business coach who helps digital CEOs grow scalable, sustainable businesses. Known for his contrarian perspectives and deep coaching work, James is the founder of Business By Design and host of the Mind Your Business podcast. His work focuses on mindset, identity, and dismantling the mental blocks that keep entrepreneurs from success.

📧 Join my Newsletter for a weekly cocktail of insider business strategy, personal reflections, and the journey of being a thought leader. 📧

For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode546

Wanna know what makes people stop scrolling and actually pay attention to your business?

This episode is like sitting front row in a marketing masterclass—with real examples that made me go, “Dang. THAT is good.”

I share 3 real-life examples of irresistible marketing—from a PayPal email that stopped me in my tracks, to a blog that made me want to hire the writer immediately, to a customer service email that turned into a sales lesson.

And the best part? You can use all of them today in your own business.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

• A genius way to turn an old-school flyer tactic into digital gold 💸
• How one cold email stood out using just $0.02 (yes, really)
• Why idioms, pattern interrupts, and cognitive fluency matter in your copy
• How a writer earned my trust—without a pitch
• What a SaaS company taught me about challenging assumptions and using data to sell smart
• How customer service teams can secretly become your best sales channel

This episode is filled with copywriting gold, marketing psychology, and strategy you can swipe for your next email, launch, or brand campaign.

Grab a notebook (you’ll want to write these down) and press play now.

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[00:28] Why what worked last month might flop today (and what to do about it)

[02:47] Marketing move #1: “Show Me the Money” — how a $0.02 email cut through the noise

[07:07] Using idioms and neuromarketing to build familiarity and trust fast

[10:54] Marketing move #2: “Thank You, No Thank You” — how a blog reader turned into a hot lead

[13:34] Marketing move #3: “No, But Here’s Something Better” — how smart SaaS email turned a no into insight + upsell

[21:27] Why challenging assumptions and asking for feedback is the future of growth marketing

Listen to Related Episodes:

• The BEST Guerrilla Marketing Strategies You NEED to Know
• Four Secrets to Unstoppable Marketing
• How to Turn Marketing Setbacks into Future Success

📧 Join my Newsletter for a weekly cocktail of insider business strategy, personal reflections, and the journey of being a thought leader. 📧

For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode545

Ready to create a powerful brand, high-level marketing strategies, and build systems that scale alongside a group of talented 7-figure entrepreneurs?

I’m hosting a mastermind for 7-figure entrepreneurs who want to build their business to 8-figures (and beyond) alongside others committed to doing the same - if it sounds like a good fit, I’d love to invite you to learn more and apply here: https://jasminestar.com/mastermind

What if success isn’t about having all the answers—but about starting before you feel ready?

If you’ve ever hesitated to take the next step because you’re waiting to be “qualified,” this episode is for you.

In this special repurposed episode, I sat down with Alexis Teichmiller on the Circle “Making Of” podcast to talk about how I built my brand from the ground up—starting with a $19 PDF and zero business experience.

You’ll hear:

✨ How I went from law school dropout to six figures in my first year as a photographer

✨ The moment I realized my audience was asking for a product I hadn’t even created yet

✨ Why generosity has been my #1 business strategy (and how it shaped my success)

✨ The hard decision to pivot from photography to educator, strategist, and tech founder

✨ The real reason I burned the boats on past businesses to step into something bigger

And if you’ve ever felt like ambition is a luxury you can’t afford, I share how I went from survival mode to fully embracing a growth mindset.

🎧 Listen now and DM me on Instagram @JasmineStar with your biggest takeaway!

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

00:00 - Starting before you're ready: why action beats perfection

02:06 - How I made six figures in my first year as a photographer (without a degree)

04:51 - Turning my audience’s questions into a $100,000 product (by accident!)

07:16 - How my childhood shaped my mindset around generosity and business

10:53 - The truth about ambition and why it felt like a “luxury” I couldn’t afford

16:01 - Pivoting from photography to digital products: the leap that changed everything

18:46 - Burning the boats: letting go of past dreams to step into something new

25:20 - Building a tech company from scratch—the hardest thing I’ve ever done

30:25 - The future of Social Curator & my vision for building a true entrepreneur community

📧 Join my Newsletter for a weekly cocktail of insider business strategy, personal reflections, and the journey of being a thought leader: https://jasminestar.com/newsletter 📧

For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode544

Ready to create a powerful brand, high-level marketing strategies, and build systems that scale alongside a group of talented 7-figure entrepreneurs?

I’m hosting a mastermind for 7-figure entrepreneurs who want to build their business to 8-figures (and beyond) alongside others committed to doing the same - if it sounds like a good fit, I’d love to invite you to learn more and apply here: https://jasminestar.com/mastermind

Join the waitlist and be first to know when I open applications for my next 7-Figure Mastermind here: jasminestar.com/mastermind

Let me guess… your to-do list looks like a CVS receipt. You know what needs to get done, but you’re constantly asking yourself, “What should I do first?”

Friend, you’re not alone.

Whether you’re scaling past 7 figures or juggling multiple team members, the question I hear most often in my mastermind is: “I know what to do… but what’s the right order?”

So in this episode, I’m sharing something straight from a recent mastermind call I hosted with powerhouse women scaling their businesses to $5M, $7M, and beyond. (Spoiler alert: their struggles might sound very familiar.)

We talk about:

• Why doing more isn’t the answer—you need a system
• The difference between urgent and important (yep, there's a difference!)
• My 3-tier decision-making hierarchy—think of it like a wedding cake but with more spreadsheets
• Real examples from actual founders (with permission!) that will help you map this strategy to your own business

This framework has helped some of the most successful entrepreneurs I coach figure out exactly what to prioritize—without getting lost in the weeds.

If you’re tired of being stuck in the bottom tier of your business (read: putting out fires, managing details, being in 87 Slack channels at once), this episode is for you.

Let’s get you back to CEO mode.

🎯 Oh, and if you’re curious about what it’s like inside the mastermind or want to be on the waitlist for when doors open again, head to jasminestar.com/mastermind. I’d love to see your name there.

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[00:00] Why you’re not “behind” in business—and what every 7-figure founder feels but doesn’t say out loud

[00:57] The common pattern Jasmine noticed across multiple 7-figure businesses

[02:48] The three-tier hierarchy framework that helps you decide what to do next

[04:39] How to define your involvement at each tier—top-level strategy vs. bottom-level grunt work

[05:37] Real business examples from Gri and Abby (and how to apply this to your own list of initiatives)

[06:40] How to prioritize based on revenue, not urgency (and why that’s a CEO superpower)

Listen to Related Episodes:

• Map Out Your Next 3 Months in Less Than 30 Minutes
• How to Find and Hire the Perfect COO or Operations Specialist
• 3 Signs It’s Time to Restructure Your Team as a Leader

For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode543

Ready to create a powerful brand, high-level marketing strategies, and build systems that scale alongside a group of talented 7-figure entrepreneurs?

I’m hosting a mastermind for 7-figure entrepreneurs who want to build their business to 8-figures (and beyond) alongside others committed to doing the same - if it sounds like a good fit, I’d love to invite you to learn more and apply here: https://jasminestar.com/mastermind