Leading with Heart | Robyn Winters on Nonprofit Grit and Growth

Nonprofit leadership isn’t just about passion—it’s about perseverance, strategy, and connection. In this episode of #BusinessStoryOfTheWeek, we sit down with Robyn Winters, Director of Development at Stout Street Foundation, to hear her real-world insights on navigating the nonprofit sector, empowering women leaders, and learning from failure. Whether you're launching a nonprofit or just love a good story, this one’s for you.

What happens when your life hits an unexpected reset button? For Bridgid Ruden, a traumatic brain injury turned her world upside down—but also awakened a new purpose. In this moving and inspiring Business Story of the Week rapid-fire episode, Bridgid opens up about the accident that changed everything, her path to healing through Reiki, and how she found the courage to rebuild her life and help others do the same. Join us as Bridgid shares how she: Overcame a devastating injury and relearned basic life skills Transformed her healing into a successful Reiki practice and inspirational platform Faces the challenges of marketing with grace and persistence Continues to help trauma survivors find peace, purpose, and healing This is more than a story about business—it’s a testament to human resilience and the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

From Allergies to Innovation: How Cheri Turned a White Gravy Craving into a Dairy-Free Empire What do you do when you're allergic to dairy, wheat, eggs, and peas—but still crave white gravy? If you're Cheri, you create a revolutionary shelf-stable, dairy-free product that’s changing lives across the country. In this inspiring episode of Podcast Cola, we dive into the story of Cheri, founder of Cheri’s HazelCream and the voice behind Sherry’s Allergy Adventure. Discover how her food allergy diagnosis sparked an eight-year journey of culinary reinvention, product innovation, and unexpected success. From failed gluten-free bread to a hit on Roku TV, Cheri shares candid insights about entrepreneurship, resilience, and the power of believing in your idea—even when it starts in your own kitchen.  

In this powerful episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene chats with Brian Smith, founder and CEO of Strategy Ladders, a company that helps B2B service businesses scale rapidly and sustainably.  Brian shares his 17-year entrepreneurial journey filled with high growth, setbacks, and valuable lessons. From weathering the impact of COVID on his ventures to building a business that frees founders from the grind of sales, operations, and management, Brian offers actionable insights on smart scaling, choosing the right partners, and taking bold risks when it counts. If you want to unlock explosive growth for your business, this episode is for you!

In this dynamic episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene talks with John Tillman — a seasoned entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple businesses across industries, from retail to tech.  John shares his rollercoaster journey: how he faced near-bankruptcy, overcame fear, and found resilience to rise again. Hear about his current ventures — the uplifting feedback platform BeKinder and the visionary Entrepreneurial Hall of Giants — and get valuable insights on turning ideas into action, focusing on vision, and conquering fear of failure.  This episode is packed with inspiration for entrepreneurs at every stage!

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene sits down with Gloria Flora — a pioneering landscape architect, permaculturist, and founder of the US Biochar Initiative. Gloria shares her remarkable journey from leading roles in the US Forest Service to creating transformative nonprofit organizations that protect public lands and promote sustainability.  Discover how she turned personal sacrifice into opportunities for change, and learn how targeted communication and integrity can amplify your mission.  This is an episode filled with wisdom for entrepreneurs, changemakers, and anyone passionate about sustainability and resilience.

In this episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Jeff Holman, founder of Intellectual Strategies, to explore how he's transforming the traditional legal model through Fractional Legal Services. Jeff shares how working alongside CEOs and CFOs taught him that most law firms don’t deliver what startups and small businesses truly need — and how he’s fixing that. We dive into how his firm provides scalable, right-time legal support to innovators, empowering entrepreneurs to focus on building their vision while Jeff’s team takes care of the legal complexities. He also opens up about a personal mindset shift, the importance of action in conquering fear, and how podcasting has become a key strategy for reaching new audiences. Whether you’re a founder, creator, or small business owner, this episode will leave you inspired to innovate with confidence.

In this episode of Business Story of the Week, host Shaahin Cheyene sits down with the dynamic and trailblazing Jackie Lapin, a true serial pioneer. From becoming one of the first female sports writers in America before age 22 to leading a top-tier sports PR agency and later pivoting into spiritual authorship and podcast marketing — Jackie has reinvented herself time and time again. Now, she's on her most personal and passion-driven mission yet: The Historic Traveler, a global platform and community for lovers of history, books, travel, and storytelling. Jackie shares her journey through failure, transformation, and building meaningful impact by doing what she loves. Whether you're a business founder, creator, or someone navigating your next chapter — Jackie's story offers not just inspiration but also tangible wisdom on resilience, strategic pivots, and purpose-driven living.

In this compelling episode of Business Story of the Week, Shaahin Cheyene sits down with Dr. Scott Dell—a seasoned entrepreneur, CPA, academic, and AI advocate who’s spent decades straddling both the traditional and the bleeding edge of business. From selling vacuum cleaners and cars to teaching students the power of success skills in the AI age, Dr. Dell’s journey is as diverse as it is inspiring. He opens up about: Navigating ethical challenges in sales Why AI is as transformative as the Gutenberg Press His philosophy on “learning experiences” vs. failure How to engage in today’s noisy digital world using LinkedIn The importance of lifelong learning and just taking action Whether you're a business leader, student, or tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with gold nuggets that will shift your perspective on business, technology, and personal growth.

In this powerful episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Rafael McMaster, founder of Indivisible Arts, a nonprofit that is changing the narrative around mental and emotional health through creativity and consciousness. Rafael shares the origin and evolution of Indivisible Arts, how his team uses art to teach youth fundamental life tools, and the upcoming launch of the Emerging Consciousness Broadcast Center—a revolutionary digital platform designed to make mental health resources accessible to every struggling teen, no matter where they are. He gets real about the challenges of fundraising, the impact of community-driven marketing, and the single most important lesson he teaches and lives by: You are not your thoughts. This episode is a wake-up call for creatives, educators, and anyone looking to empower the next generation through awareness, art, and action.