INspired INsider Podcast

Aalap Shah is a Chicago-born entrepreneur and Founder of 1o8, a performance marketing digital agency focused on driving sales for CPG companies nationwide on e-com and Amazon platforms. They've worked with companies like Gildan, Sweet Leaf Tea, Tio, So Crazy, and more. Aalap has been recognized as a leader in Chicago's minority-owned digital marketing world and is known by multiple entities for his entrepreneurial and charitable endeavors. Crain's Chicago Business recognized him as one of Chicago's young emerging philanthropists, while the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship named him the National Volunteer of the Year. In this episode… One of the greatest concerns for online retailers is retaining customers and keeping them engaged. It is especially critical now because customer acquisition cost has become astronomically high as brands scramble to lift online sales. Currently, only 20% of site visitors account for 50% to 70% of retail sales. Trying to get new customers is great, but what if you tried to get that returning customer up 30% or 40%? How does your business change? How do you get your existing customers to buy more? That's where the retention loyalty model comes in: this model helps you generate increased profitability more quickly rather than spending insane amounts on new customer acquisitions. Want to find out how? Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the Founder of 1o8 Agency, Aalap Shah. They discuss Aalap's journey to becoming an agency owner, how retail brands can thrive online, the retention loyalty model, and how to increase the profitability of your business.

Michele Tonkovitz is the Founder and CEO of Green Onion Creative, an agency that helps companies nationwide grow their brand awareness and achieve their marketing goals. She has over a decade of experience writing creative copy. Michele also offers design, social media, PR, and vendor relations services. She holds a BA in journalism and mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In this episode… One of the hardest things for a business owner is transitioning from a solopreneur to building a team. The struggle comes from the extra time and effort needed to take on new tasks and roles required to build a team. It is also the mental stress of transferring knowledge to employees when it will take you minutes to get the job done. Making that transition is more challenging in the creative space. Letting go and allowing someone else to take the reins can feel like you're in a room with no air, especially if you hate administrative work and managing people. But the truth is you'll have to let go if you want to grow your business. After seven years of riding solo, here's how Michele Tonkovitz quit solopreneurship smoothly… Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the Founder and CEO of Green Onion Creative, Michele Tonkovitz. They discuss Michele's struggles and strategies for transitioning from solopreneurship into building a team, how to source talent that suits you and your clients, SEO, website mistakes people make, and more.

Jess Begen Galica is a corporate speaker and private coach. She helps high-performing women transform their career trajectories to find more purpose, balance, and fulfillment. Jess has built a highly successful business career spanning almost every kind of corporate work environment, from top companies like Apple and Siemens to various startups to management consulting at Bain & Company. After becoming a new mom, Jess pivoted, researched, and wrote about women and careers. She soon discovered that her story is not unique — building a stellar career, doing everything "right," but waking up lost. She went on to study the career trajectories of more than 150 highly successful women and has become an expert on career reinvention. She is the Founder of Reclaim Your Career, where she helps women launch a career change. In this episode… To every working woman, you're not alone in the guilt you feel when you try to reinvent yourself and make your next big career move. You think you have to climb a career ladder, hopefully punch through the glass ceiling, and keep climbing. Now you're about to make a big career decision, but you fear that you'll fall off the ladder if you do. Here's the truth: there's no ladder. Career changes today are universal and an adventure with many twists and turns. But it requires new tools, strategies, intentions, and investments because career navigation has become more complicated. What are these tools, systems, and investments? Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the Founder of Reclaim Your Career, Jess Begen Galica. They discuss the guilt successful women deal with and why they feel lost, why women need feedback mechanisms to navigate their careers, how to begin significant career change safely, and more.

Peter Billmeyer, SIOR, is a Co-founder and Managing Principal at Bespoke Commercial Real Estate, a company that finds, negotiates, finalizes, and extends custom real estate solutions for privately-held businesses and nonprofit organizations. In his role, Peter prides himself on business development and creative problem solving to drive value for clients continually. He has a business degree from Oregon State University and was an Academic All-American, a four-year starter, and three-year captain of the soccer team — and eventually played professionally. In this episode… Your company culture is everything, and you should protect it at all costs. What most people don't realize is that your work environment has a lot to do with that. Beyond the pandemic and the need for many people to work remotely, how productive is your company's work environment? Do your employees come in to work earlier? Are they hesitant to leave by the end of the day because they love it there? Contrary to what many people think, many employees want to return to the office. But most companies do not have the physical environment their teams love. And the more employees work remotely, the less connected they are, putting your company's culture at risk. Find out how Peter Billmeyer is helping entrepreneurs rethink their workspaces and culture. Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, featuring Co-founder and Managing Principal at Bespoke Commercial Real Estate, Peter Billmeyer. They discuss Peter's entrepreneurial journey, the nature of commercial real estate right now, and the struggles and opportunities of building business partnerships, culture, and workspaces.

Michael LaVista is the Founder of Caxy Interactive, a Chicago-based custom software and technology company. Since 1999, they've been helping organizations create user-centered designs, content management systems, e-commerce, mobile application development, and much more. Over the past several decades, they have worked with clients like Motorola, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the American Dental Association. In this episode… Digital transformation has become a buzzword, and people struggle to figure out what it means beyond deploying tech tools and frameworks. It is more about scaling processes, systems, and eventually revenue. Unfortunately, many companies complicate their digital transformation attempts, turning innovation into a burden. For example, when some companies try to improve the digital experience for customers, they often run into the common mistake of making customers jump through hurdles. They ask too much of the customer too early. But all the customer needs is what's necessary to get them up and running. How can you avoid these pitfalls of digital experience design? Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the Founder of Caxy Interactive, Michael LaVista. They discuss Michael's digital experience design and custom software development consulting work, the mistakes companies are making with their digital transformation efforts, how they can implement change using the agile approach, and more.

Marcia Dawood is an investor who has invested in over 200 early-stage private companies. She's also a Venture Partner with Mindshift Capital. Mindshift Capital is a global, women-run venture firm investing in notable women-led companies solving big problems with sophisticated solutions. Marcia is also part of the Investment Committee for the Next Wave Impact Fund, serves as a Board Member and Advisor to Zive and Misfits Bakehouse, and is an Activator for SheEO. Marcia currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Angel Capital Association. In this episode… Angel investing is a risky asset class, and financial advisors often discourage putting in more than five to 10% of your net worth — and they are right. But many entrepreneurs either do not know this or do not factor it into their plan when contacting angel investors. So, these entrepreneurs see angel investors as always ready to write a check. After all, that's what they do, right? Nothing could be farther from the truth. From the invaluable experience and skills they bring to the vast network of willing helpers in their circle, there's more to angel investing than writing checks. Beyond money and business, they also have access to tech, tools, and research to live a healthy life and advocate the same for others. All that and more make for smart and healthy angel investing. Want to learn more? Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, featuring Marcia Dawood, Venture Partner with Mindshift Capital and Chair of the Board of the Angel Capital Association. They discuss Marcia's journey as a female angel investor, her investment strategy, mistakes entrepreneurs should avoid when contacting angel investors, preventing scary diseases, and more.

Allie LeFevere is the Creative Director and Co-founder of Obedient, a humor branding agency. They turn businesses into unstoppable, unorthodox, unforgettable brands because they believe that standing out is not a matter of taste but of survival. Allie has spent the last decade working with brands to ensure their messaging isn't a snoozefest. Before starting Obedient, Allie was the VP of Engagement at a Chicago-based startup. She then jumped ship in 2014 to run her first business developing creative programs for companies like Dell, AT&T, Trunk Club, and emerging small businesses and startups. In this episode… Ultimately, the goal of marketing is to get your target audience to fall in love with your brand and do business with you. That involves connecting with your audience on a deep emotional level — even if you're in a lackluster industry. Ironically, many brands see it as "out of brand" to infuse humor strategically to connect with their prospects. Other brands desire this level of connection with their target demographics, but their brands lack personality. Luckily, Allie LeFevere has developed the brand personality method to turn boring and complicated brands into fun ones… because fun sells. How does this method work, and how are top brands using it? Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the Creative Director and Co-founder of Obedient Agency, Allie LeFevere. They discuss the brand personality method, how to make boring and complicated businesses come alive through humor, and more!

Becky Feinberg-Galvez is the CEO and Co-owner of Candor Threads, a custom apparel company. The company was formerly known as Shop for Ties. Candor Threads first started as corporate textiles in 1982 when Becky's stepfather, Arnie Kapp, founded the business. He began making cold calls to sell ties, winning over customers and connections from his basement office — and, more importantly — instilled the importance of speaking with candor and treating every customer as a friend. Becky joined Candor Threads as a Marketing and Sales Manager and moved into the CEO position following her stepfather's passing. As CEO, Becky has created steady year-over-year growth by introducing new products and implementing a customer-centered, detail-oriented approach to business. In this episode… We live in a world of uncertainties, and many times, there are more things out of our control that negatively impact our lives and business. In those uncertain times, such as when COVID-19 peaked, the most entrepreneurial question to ask is, "How can we help?" By trying to become a more helpful business, Becky Feinberg-Galvez led Candor Threads through a rough patch that became the company's most rewarding year in revenue. The company is now riding on that experience to do more amazing things for its clients. Want to learn more? Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the CEO of Candor Threads, Becky Feinberg-Galvez. They discuss Becky's entrepreneurial journey, the one time her business failed, and how she turned a defeating moment into a profitable one by pivoting to become a helpful company.

Kevin Donlin is the Founder of Client Cloning Systems, a company that helps executives leverage the power of direct mail, email, and warm calls. Kevin has been involved in marketing since 1994 and sold one of the first ebooks online, which was the beginning of his e-commerce journey. By the late 90s, he was a Webmaster for FedEx, where he worked with some of the pioneers of online marketing. Since 1998, Kevin has been a copywriter and marketing advisor, delivering sales gains of more than $1 million on multiple occasions through direct mail and online marketing. He's been interviewed by ABC, CBS, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune magazine, and many more. He's a co-author and author of five marketing books. In this episode… Is your business or product helping your customers avoid immense pain? If yes, why aren't they rushing to do business with you and grow your revenue? One reason: you're marketing like everyone else. What if there was a way to break people's patterns, trigger their emotional hot buttons, and get them to buy? Paper mail and direct response marketing are how to do it. Why? Because anything in print will be more believable and valuable than what you read online. But the secret is knowing how to unlock your customers' hidden desires, communicating in their language, and solving their pain. Ready to roll? Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the Founder of Client Cloning Systems, Kevin Donlin. They discuss what the Client Cloning Kit is, why the value of paper mail outweighs the cost, how to write copy that pushes people's emotional buttons to take action, and generating millions in revenue through direct mail. Stay tuned.

Kevin Donlin is the Founder of Client Cloning Systems, a company that helps executives leverage the power of direct mail, email, and warm calls. Kevin has been involved in marketing since 1994 and sold one of the first ebooks online, which was the beginning of his e-commerce journey. By the late 90s, he was a Webmaster for FedEx, where he worked with some of the pioneers of online marketing. Since 1998, Kevin has been a copywriter and marketing advisor, delivering sales gains of more than $1 million on multiple occasions through direct mail and online marketing. He's been interviewed by ABC, CBS, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune magazine, and many more. He's a co-author and author of five marketing books. In this episode… Is your business or product helping your customers avoid immense pain? If yes, why aren't they rushing to do business with you and grow your revenue? One reason: you're marketing like everyone else. What if there was a way to break people's patterns, trigger their emotional hot buttons, and get them to buy? Paper mail and direct response marketing are how to do it. Why? Because anything in print will be more believable and valuable than what you read online. But the secret is knowing how to unlock your customers' hidden desires, communicating in their language, and solving their pain. Ready to roll? Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz featuring the Founder of Client Cloning Systems, Kevin Donlin. They discuss what the Client Cloning Kit is, why the value of paper mail outweighs the cost, how to write copy that pushes people's emotional buttons to take action, and generating millions in revenue through direct mail. Stay tuned.