My guest today is Ginni Saraswati-Cook. A successful entrepreneur in the podcasting space. However, this story isn’t just about podcasting or entrepreneurship. It’s about airports, Knicks games and cats. My favourite parts of this episode are the stories Ginni tells about how the most meaningful moments often happen when you’re least expecting them.

Ginni is the founder of Ginni Media, a global podcast production company that works with everyone from ambitious entrepreneurs to household-name brands. But Ginni doesn’t just produce podcasts—she produces perspective. Her work helps people and companies tune into their frequency and amplify stories that might otherwise go unheard.

She’s also the voice behind The Ginni Show, now in its seventh season. A show that, like its host, keeps evolving. This season, she describes it as her personal masterclass, an exploration of the ideas, questions, and curiosities that have been occupying her mind.

This conversation left me inspired to pay closer attention to those in-between moments and to stay curious about where they might lead.

Join us every other week for leadership stories from female founders, trailblazers in women leadership and entrepreneurs sharing their success stories.

Links & resources

Ginni Media Website

Ginni Media Instagram

The Ginni Show Podcast - Apple - Spotify

Metro Podcast Studio

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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dana Shortt, the visionary entrepreneur who built a beloved business from the ground up, transforming it into a true community staple.

Dana shares the remarkable story of her journey, from her humble beginnings in catering to the emotional and strategic process of successfully exiting her business. This episode is packed with valuable lessons for anyone navigating the world of entrepreneurship, ownership transition, and planning an exit strategy.

Join us every other week for leadership stories from female founders, trailblazers in women leadership and entrepreneurs sharing their success stories.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• The Genesis of a Business: Discover how Dana started her catering business with just IKEA bags and the subway, eventually evolving it into a thriving retail store. Learn about the crucial role of mentorship from family and professionals in shaping her path.
• Building a Brand with Purpose: Dana emphasizes the importance of quality food and a clear pricing strategy in attracting and retaining loyal customers. She'll share how she overcame early skepticism about her age and stuck to her convictions to build a business known for excellence.
• The Full-Time Job of Selling a Business: Dana pulls back the curtain on the often-overlooked realities of selling a business. She shares how the business sale process felt like "another full-time job" and the critical need to maintain business operations as if you weren't selling.
• Navigating the Emotional Journey: Selling a business you've poured your heart into – what Dana affectionately calls her "third baby" – is an incredibly emotional experience. Hear how she navigated these feelings and ensured a positive transition for everyone involved, preserving the legacy she built.
• Key Advice for Entrepreneurs: Dana offers invaluable insights for anyone considering their own exit strategy. From understanding your business's true value to the power of "If you don't ask, you don't get," her advice is practical and empowering.

Beyond the Business: Explore Dana's exciting new creative pursuits and future aspirations. She shares how her journey has highlighted the importance of family time and the freedom to explore new passions, reminding us all to "test our passions before committing to them."

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Join us for leadership stories from female founders, trailblazers in women leadership and entrepreneurs sharing their success stories.

What does it take to build a beverage company from scratch? Not just any beverage company—but one that is unapologetically female-founded, obsessively focused on ingredients, and determined to carve out space in an industry long dominated by men in boardrooms and barrooms alike?

Melissa is already a leader and teacher in the drinks space. But like so many entrepreneurs, she saw a gap—between what was on the shelf and what she wanted to drink. Clean, flavourful, high-quality hard seltzers and spritzes without the synthetic aftertaste, the hidden chemicals, or spoonfuls of sugar.

So, she created DAME—a Canadian-born beverage brand that’s as much about taste as it is about purpose. She calls it her baby business. But that baby? It’s growing up fast. Today, you can find DAME in the LCBO, sitting on shelves beside legacy brands, standing tall in its bright, elegant cans.

But this isn’t just a story about what’s in the can.

It’s about leadership, and what it takes to found something from nothing. It’s about setbacks, long nights, and moments of doubt. And it’s about mentorship—because while Melissa is crafting crisp Italian spritz cocktails, she’s also helping to build bursaries and educational programs for women looking to break into the beverage industry.

This is a conversation about grit. About vision. And about why, sometimes, the best way to shake up an industry… is to simply pour something better.

Melissa Pulvermacher is the Portfolio Director at Cru Wine Merchants and the Founder of DAME Beverage.

Links and Resources

DAME Website

DAME Instagram

Melissa’s LinkedIn

Cru Wine

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Voices of Leadership Podcast

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Bespoke Productions Website

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