What actually happens when you decide to start a business with your best friend?

In this episode of Without a Brief, I’m joined by Tenaya and Daria, the best friends behind Maison Àmie, a brand built around something they felt women were needing more and more of: actual connection.

We talk about how an idea born from their own friendship turned into a business, what it’s really like building something with someone you’re so close to, and how having completely different personalities can somehow be both the challenge and the thing that makes it work.

We get into the fear of putting yourself out there, social media, self-doubt, money, celebrating the little milestones and the support that can sometimes come from the people you least expect.

But we also talk about the parts of starting a business that don’t stay neatly inside the business. The impact it has on your personal life, struggling to ask for help, learning to delegate, trying to make space for yourself while building something new and, of course, the very real fear that it might not work.

And underneath all of it is friendship.

How intentional are we actually being with the women in our lives? How often are we properly present with each other? And somewhere between work, relationships, family and everything else women are carrying, have we forgotten that friendship deserves time too?

A conversation about business, friendship, connection and figuring it all out as you go.

Maison Àmie
Founders: Tenaya & Daria
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_maisonamie_/
Website: https://maisonamie.com.au/
Business: Maison Àmie

Chapters

• 00:00 The Birth of Maison Ami
• 01:38 Starting a Business Together
• 03:32 Challenges and Stress Management
• 04:18 Balancing Differences and Opposites
• 05:36 Creating Meaningful Rituals for Women
• 07:01 The Impact of Women's Energy
• 08:41 Navigating Social Media and Influencer Journey
• 09:01 Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt
• 19:41 Support and Judgment from Women
• 23:53 Celebrating Milestones and Money Mindset
• 26:14 Balancing Business and Personal Life
• 27:12 The Impact of Business on Personal Life
• 29:09 The Struggle to Ask for Help and Delegate Tasks
• 30:03 The Importance of Intentionality in Relationships
• 32:04 The Fear of Failure in Business

What happens when the conversation about business stops being about how much money you make and starts being about how much you actually keep?

In this episode of Without a Brief, I’m joined by Despina Cleanthous, accountant, business advisor and founder of LC Accountants, for a very wide-ranging conversation about money, business, women, power and some of the financial realities we probably need to talk about more.

We get into Despina’s unexpected move from music into accounting, the culture of debt, financial literacy and why generating revenue doesn’t necessarily mean you have a financially healthy business. We talk about cash flow, pricing for actual profit, the role accountants should be playing beyond compliance and why so many small business owners are building businesses without really understanding what their numbers are telling them.

But, as usual, the conversation goes well beyond the numbers.

We talk about women and financial independence, who holds financial decision-making power, gender expectations in business, the Australian tall poppy problem, questionable online business advice, personal branding, becoming visible online and the strange experience of learning to put your own face and voice behind a business.

We also get into motherhood, ambition and the expectation that women somehow need to perfectly balance all of it.

It’s a conversation about making money, yes. But more than that, it’s about understanding it, keeping it, making decisions with it and building a business that actually supports the life you’re trying to create.

Despina Cleanthous
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/despinacleanthous/
Business: LC Accountants
Role: Director, Tax & Business Advisor
Based in: Darwin, Northern Territory
Website: https://lcaccountants.com.au/
Personal website: https://despinacleanthous.com.au/

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 00:47 Transition to Business and Career
• 01:40 Transition from Music to Accounting
• 02:23 Academic and Business Journey
• 03:05 Challenges of Business Success
• 04:28 Societal Attitudes and Financial Conditioning
• 05:22 The Impact of Financial Decisions
• 07:17 The Concept of Tall Poppy Syndrome
• 09:22 Financial Challenges and Societal Impact
• 11:16 Empowerment and Women in Business
• 12:14 Women's Role in Finance and Business
• 13:35 Conclusion and Insights
• 31:01 Women in Financial Decision-Making
• 32:23 Balanced Approach to Business
• 33:51 Journey of Personal Branding
• 34:25 Evolution of Content Creation
• 52:42 Development of a Tech Company
• 59:28 The Importance of Cash Flow
• 01:00:26 Pricing, Expenses, and Profitability
• 01:06:10 Mindset and Work-Life Balance
• 01:13:16 Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship

The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including personal introductions, business advisory work, the impact of hyperindependence on women, the use of AI in marketing, and the ethical implications of AI technology. It also delves into the challenges of hiring and the role of human expertise in contrast to AI solutions. The conversation covers topics such as the impact of conspiracy theories, desensitization to shocking events, the use of AI in creative processes, and the importance of human input in AI operations. It also delves into the challenges of content creation and the value of rest and reflection in business.

Takeaways

• Business advisory work focuses on identifying and addressing load-bearing issues that are often masked by marketing and branding efforts.
• The conversation highlights the impact of hyperindependence on women and the need to address it as a form of trauma.
• The use of AI in marketing and the ethical implications of AI technology are discussed, emphasizing the need for discernment and the value of human expertise. Impact of conspiracy theories
• Desensitization to shocking events
• Use of AI in creative processes
• Importance of human input in AI operations
• Challenges of content creation
• Value of rest and reflection in business

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Business Advisory Work
• 05:48 Impact of Hyperindependence on Women
• 12:59 AI in Marketing and Ethical Implications
• 25:59 Challenges of Hiring and Human Expertise
• 31:06 Impact of Conspiracy Theories
• 32:01 Desensitization to Shocking Events
• 33:20 Use of AI in Creative Processes
• 34:26 Challenges of Content Creation
• 50:28 Value of Rest and Reflection in Business

The conversation delves into the impact of AI on marketing and business operations, addressing misconceptions, the pivot to AI, and the learning journey. It also explores the role of AI in business growth, community building, and the evolution of AI tools, while addressing the challenge of overwhelm in AI adoption. The conversation delves into the impact of AI on business and the importance of critical thinking and AI literacy in education. Em Gee shares her journey from teaching to marketing to AI, highlighting the need for adaptability and pivoting in business.

Takeaways

• AI is a foundational tool that is changing the way people work
• The use of AI requires a foundational knowledge and ongoing support AI and its Impact
• Pivoting in Business

Chapters

• 00:00 The Evolution of AI Tools and Overcoming Overwhelm
• 35:12 The Rise of AI in Business
• 42:08 The Importance of Critical Thinking and AI Literacy in Education
• 44:12 Em Gee's Journey: From Teaching to Marketing to AI

Summary

In this episode, Jasmine Sotiropoulos speaks with Tatum Brown, marketing strategist and founder of The Social Dog Company, about the realities of building profitable pet businesses. They unpack the emotional and financial challenges in the industry, from burnout and gender pay gaps to positioning, pricing, and the power of strategy over hustle.

Keywords

pet industry, marketing strategy, pricing strategy, positioning, profitability, women in business, burnout, mentorship, branding, pet services, revenue growth, business model

Key Topics

• Industry undervaluation
• Female-dominated workforce
• Emotional burnout
• Pricing and positioning
• Business model shifts
• Community and mentorship

Guest Name

Tatum Brown. Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/thesocialdogco

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and welcome

00:24 Tatum’s background and the Social Dog Company

01:59 The rescue dog origin story

03:29 Losing the business during COVID

05:22 Why the pet industry is underserved

15:22 Women, passion, and underpayment

17:16 Burnout in pet services

20:21 Raising prices with confidence

25:26 Repositioning for higher pricing

26:32 Learning business the hard way

31:24 Why strategy matters

33:17 Planning instead of guessing

35:23 Emotional decisions vs numbers

38:59 Group mentorship and implementation

42:41 Community and shared growth

48:23 Starting over and rebuilding

51:34 Attracting the wrong clients

55:51 Growth, boundaries, and a new standard

69:36 Reframing mistakes as growth

71:48 Final reflections and thanks

Follow Jasmine - Red Bow House

https://www.instagram.com/reworded.au

Summary

In this episode, Jasmine speaks with Mary Lacey Banks, an expert in dopamine dressing and personal style, about rebuilding confidence after trauma and using visibility as a form of healing. They explore themes of self-expression, courage, authenticity, and how intentional style can support both personal transformation and business growth.

Keywords

dopamine dressing, personal style, confidence, visibility, trauma recovery, authenticity, self-expression, social media growth, personal branding, community, manifestation, women’s empowerment

Key Topics

• Trauma recovery and identity rebuilding
• Dopamine dressing and intentional self-expression
• Visibility, confidence, and manifestation
• Authentic social media growth and real influence
• In-person community and word-of-mouth connection
• Courage, grit, and personal transformation

Guest Name

Mary Lacey Banks. Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/marylaceybanks/#

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome back and introducing Mary's mission
01:14 The viral dopamine dressing moment
02:00 Childhood joy, trauma and losing her identity
04:20 Rebuilding, vulnerability and starting a podcast
09:29 The Dopamine Four framework and styling app
11:19 Dressing for the woman you're becoming
12:24 Breaking free from neutral style and embracing colour
16:12 Confidence, lingerie and owning space
18:41 Representation, beauty standards and self-perception
22:24 Grit, word of mouth and community
28:00 In-person experiences and honest talk on social growth
37:58 Authenticity, fake followers and real connection
49:29 Social media as a healing tool and practising the Dopamine Four
52:21 Visibility, courage and showing up
55:23 Connect with Mary

Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/reworded.au

Summary:

Imagine switching your approach from hustle to ease, and suddenly your business starts doing the heavy lifting for you - without the cringe factor. Today’s guest, Marie Walker, shares how she’s shifted her mindset, built a rock-solid brand, and crafted a community so engaged they basically sell for her. It’s the real behind-the-scenes of scaling with authenticity, not hype.

Key words:

podcast monetization, branding, inbound marketing, question-based selling, community building, high-ticket coaching, personal brand, podcast growth

In this episode:

• Why Marie describes herself as “lazy” and how that actually means working smarter-not harder
• The power of inbound marketing and how Marie’s branding sparked a business transformation
• How community-driven initiatives like Cocktails of Clothes are changing the game for women entrepreneurs
• The role of energy, authenticity, and alignment in attracting your ideal clients
• Why investing in branding was the turning point to charging what she’s worth
• The long game of podcasting and how it’s a hidden content goldmine
• The importance of getting in the right rooms, and how podcast guesting can open doors
• How Marie’s journey from LA rooftop to international nomad embodies the “seek discomfort” mantra
• The practical steps you can take today to build trust, visibility, and genuine connections

00:00 - The myth of lazy business owners and working smarter, not harder

02:00 - How Marie’s “inbound life” changed her approach to sales and marketing

04:15 - The role of branding in attracting premium clients

06:10 - The subtle art of questions over sales pitches in DMs

08:00 - Building community that sells itself and its biggest wins

11:37 - When to invest in branding for exponential growth

15:00 - The real value of podcasting as a long-term income strategy

21:48 - How authentic energy attracts aligned opportunities

28:27 - Why podcasting is the ultimate content repurposing tool

36:35 - Getting in rooms with the right people isn’t just a cliche—it's a game changer

50:07 - Breaking through the “golden cage” and leaving comfort zones behind

58:54 - The joy and chaos of retreats and why they’re better with good planning

Guest name:

Marie Walker: find her on IG and threads on @yourgirlmedia

Your Girl Media — Marie’s business helping high-ticket coaches scale through podcasting and sales.

Follow Jasmine - Red Bow House

https://www.instagram.com/reworded.au

Summary

Kaila Uli shares her journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a successful content strategist. She discusses the importance of strategy over coaching, the realities of social media growth, and practical advice for women starting their businesses.

Keywords

content strategy, social media, entrepreneurship, marketing, business growth, women in business, strategy vs coaching, organic reach, SEO, advertising

Key Topics

• The role of a content strategist versus coach
• Building resilience through challenging life experiences
• The importance of strategy in social media growth
• How to start and scale a business with limited resources
• The significance of personal branding and authenticity

Guest Name

Kaila Uli. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kailauli/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Content Strategy and Its Importance

02:48 Kaila Uli: The Journey of a Content Strategist

05:50 Finding Your Voice: Personal Experiences and Growth

08:56 Overcoming Fears and Embracing Change

11:50 Collaboration and Community Among Women

14:49 The Value of Grunt Work in Building a Career

17:52 Mentorship and Its Impact on Success

20:37 Hiring Strategies: What to Look For

23:58 The Reality of Social Media Strategy

26:47 Maintaining Authenticity in a Digital World

30:58 Navigating Job Expectations and Capabilities

31:49 The Importance of Emotional Connection in Content

32:28 SEO: The Overlooked Marketing Strategy

33:45 The Role of Ads in Business Growth

35:14 Learning from Past Business Experiences

36:52 The Reality of Business Success and Failure

40:48 Finding Strategic Mentorship

44:45 The Necessity of Personal Branding

52:04 When to Seek Professional Help

55:01 Understanding Product Viability and Market

Follow Jasmine - Red Bow House

https://www.instagram.com/reworded.au