Theresa is a thought council leader of the C-Suite Network and podcast host of the Mindful Performance podcast. She has been a coach, corporate leader, public speaker, and comedian. Her energy is not only boundless, but infectious. She gives us several ingenious nuggets of useful information any entrepreneur can use. Claiming to come out of the womb ready to perform, she is a powerhouse of inspiring energy. You won’t want to miss this episode!

Rosaria Cain – CEO and Founder of the Knoodle Ad Agency

Rosaria has an impressive career history along with many successes and one spectacular failure. What’s that failure? You’ll have to listen in to find out. I will however say this, even with all her accomplishments she remains a down-to-earth, giving person (and a smart businesswoman). At the time of this interview, she is the incoming president of the Phoenix chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and acts as a mentor to many aspiring female entrepreneurs. And… she has an interesting perspective regarding vacationing in Italy!

Rosaria’s passion and energy has attracted and retained clients for over 20 years, including impressive clients like Fulton Homes and the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce. A champion of the entrepreneurial spirit and founder of Knoodle since 1999, she has a continual desire to always be learning something new. Right now, it’s learning to speak Italian! Rosaria’s extensive media background includes leadership roles at FOX, CBS, The Arizona Republic and K-Lite Radio. However, she will tell you her greatest win is the internal team she has assembled at Knoodle.

Knoodle is a full-service advertising agency headquartered in Phoenix. Since their founding in 1999, they have been focused on creating the most impactful work for their clients. From integrated campaigns and videos to design, their work creates real connections with people that drives results. 

Topics Discussed

• Knoodle is 21 years old
• They take a “disruption” approach
• What does disruption really mean?
• It’s critical that your business stands out from your competition
• Knoodle launched “WashClub” Phoenix https://www.washclubphoenix.com – with a disruptive idea
• They use A/B testing to see what resonates with potential customers
• Insight driven businesses like Amazon and why they’re different
• How she started her first business after working for the Fox TV network
• Why the Phoenix area is attracting so many new businesses.
• NAWBO (The National Association of Women Business Owners)
• Rosaria’s $250,000 failure opening a business in San Diego
• Do your research. Hire a local attorney, not one from a different state
• Don’t use your credit line unless absolutely necessary. Manage your expenses
• Combing work and vacationing in Italy three time per year and why it’s a good idea

Resources and Contact Info

https://knoodle.com

https://www.nawbo.org

Rita Kakati-Shah – Be Bold. Be You. Be Uma.

“In Sanskrit, the Hindu Goddess Uma is a daughter, a mother, a sibling, and a wife. She represents strength, courage, and confidence. She is the Goddess of Go-Getting!”

I spoke with Rita Kakati-Shah about why she started her company, Uma. If I had to pick one word to describe her, it would be enlightening.  She shared some extremely valuable nuggets of wisdom she has collected over the years. Anyone listening to this episode will be a little wiser and more optimistic about their business ventures.

Rita Kakati-Shah, CEO and Founder of Uma, is an award-winning, gender, diversity, inclusion and career strategist, speaker, and advisor to Fortune 500 companies. She founded Uma in response to her personal journey and is dedicated to empowering individuals to succeed at life and work after a career break or transition. Prior to Uma, Rita lead Business Development globally in CNS healthcare. Rita began her professional career at Goldman Sachs in London, where she was awarded the prestigious Excellence in Citizenship and Diversity Award. She is also the recipient of the King’s College London Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of her outstanding professional achievement, civic leadership, and service to her alma mater.

Rita is a graduate of King’s Business School, and actively involved with the King’s Leadership Mentoring program, Entrepreneurial Institute, and International Alumni Committee in New York City. She also mentors women veterans and spouses returning to civilian work after active duty, and survivors of domestic violence. Rita sits on the Women in Legal Profession Committee of the New York City Bar Association, Co-Chairs the Working Moms of the J at the JCC of Manhattan, is an ACP Women Veteran’s Founding Circle member in the US and Governing Board member of Ormiston Park Academy in the UK. She is a frequently invited guest speaker at University of Southern California and an Oversees Ambassador to the London Bihu Committee. She was born in Paris, grew up in London, and now lives in NYC.

Topics Discussed

• Rita took a four-year sabbatical to raise her two children
• Being a full-time mother of two toddlers turned out to be a lot harder than working in investment banking
• Being a mother requires intense negotiating and scheduling skills and are great problem solvers (because they have to be), yet the corporate world doesn’t recognize being a mother as a legitimate reason to have a gap on your resume. 
• A Harvard study found that a gap on your resume due to time off for motherhood gave candidates a 50% lower chance of getting called for an interview.
• Being a mother and being discriminated against gave Rita the incentive to start UMA
• Studies show that mothers are much better at getting things done than women without kids or men
• Uma teaches how to be confident and not to be taken advantage of
• “We don’t just fill quotas—we provide highly qualified candidates that also fit the needed demographic”
• Managing a diverse workforce requires some specific skills—Uma teaches them these skills
• It took Rita 3-4 years to start achieving success with her company
• Having a diverse well-trained workforce is actually good for a company’s bottom line
• Imposter syndrome is much more prevalent among women and especially women of color
• Getting over imposter syndrome requires preparation and practice
• Prepare and practice with yourself and your friends, record your speech and critique it. Try to convince your friends that do not support your point of view, and get their feedback
• Don’t quit. Pivot! Never give up! When things are not going well, rather than quitting—pivot to a new direction

Resources and Contact Info

https://beboldbeuma.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-kakati

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivAUMgM4_mA

https://twitter.com/BeBoldBeUma

rita.kakati@gmail.com