Best Worksmart Podcasts (2024)

1
From Idea to Launch: The Story of Blavity Inc.'s "Home and Texture" Media Brand 9:03

1+ y ago9:03

9:03

In this mini episode, Morgan DeBaun, CEO of Blavity Inc., takes us behind the scenes of the launch of their new home and decor media brand, "Home and Texture." Morgan shares how she and her team identified a gap in the market for a media brand that focused on the intersection of culture and home design, and how they went about bringing this vision …

1
The Ins and Outs of Franchise Ownership: A Chick-fil-A Case Study 30:33

1+ y ago30:33

30:33

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a franchise owner? Is it possible to have complete entrepreneurial independence and the ability to make an impact on your local community? If so, you’ll want to hear my conversation with Kareem Edwards. Kareem got his start at Lehman Brothers, Kraft, and Google — and then went on to open his first …

1
How to Win Nine-Figure Government Contracts: A Guide to Scaling Your Business 38:11

2y ago38:11

38:11

Are you intimidated by the thought of government contracting? Not sure where to start? On this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, I sit down with Denise Burgess, President and CEO of Burgess Services, a construction management firm based in Denver, Colorado. Burgess has served on the Board of Directors of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce …

1
The When and Why of Hiring a CFO For Your Business 52:25

2y ago52:25

52:25

Shondra Washington is an emerging fund manager, investment banker and co-founder of TBC capital, an education-first advisory and consulting firm focused on fractional CFO’s business development and strategy services for venture-backed companies and small business owners. She is now the CEO of Black@. With her experience in finance and advising star…

1
How to Save Time and Automate Your Business With These 18 Tools 31:31

2y ago31:31

31:31

One of the most important things about working smart is learning how to automate and delegate to increase your efficiency. In this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, Morgan shares her favorite go-to tools to grow her companies, automate her processes and save hours on big projects. From Asana to Lucidchart, these tools are crucial to maximizi…

1
How to Scale your Business Revenue, Hire a Team, and Live a Balanced Life 6:01

2+ y ago6:01

6:01

Today, I have a fun announcement…WorkSmart+ is officially open! ✨ https://www.worksmartadvisor.com/launch ✨ The doors are open for you to join my new membership network that offers you my signature process to scale your business revenue…on repeat. WorkSmart is for CEOs, small business owners, & solopreneurs that are ready to escape the grind, deleg…

1
Serial Entrepreneur Touré Roberts Teaches us How to Find Balance in Life and Business 37:44

2+ y ago37:44

37:44

In this episode, I sit down with serial entrepreneur Touré Roberts to learn more on finding balance in life and business. Pastor Touré shares his story as an entrepreneur in tech and how he transitioned to a congregation founder and community builder. His tips for rebalancing your mindset through the ups and downs are crucial for anyone working to …

1
How Nashville is Changing the Game for Young Black Professionals 45:21

2+ y ago45:21

45:21

In this series, Morgan interviews top entrepreneurs in her new city, Nashville, to learn about their business journey, chat about the growing community of entrepreneurs in Nashville, and what advice they have for listeners thinking about leaping into entrepreneurship. For this episode, Morgan sits down with Jasmine Sweet, lifestyle blogger, iHeartR…

1
How to Create a Business that Leaves a Legacy 1:00:26

2+ y ago1:00:26

1:00:26

Welcome to our new series: At Home in Nashville In this series, Morgan sits down with a few top entrepreneurs in her new city, Nashville, to learn about their business journey, chat about the growing community of entrepreneurs in Nashville, and what advice they have for listeners thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship. In this episode…

1
How to Monetize Your Brand as a Travel Content Creator 45:46

2+ y ago45:46

45:46

Welcome to our new series: At Home in Nashville In this series, Morgan sits down with a few top entrepreneurs in her new city, Nashville, to learn about their business journey, chat about the growing community of entrepreneurs in Nashville, and what advice they have for listeners thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship. In this episode…

1
How to Get on Your First Board 51:17

2+ y ago51:17

51:17

Lucinda Duncalfe, serial tech founder, CEO, and non-profit board member, is an expert when it comes to founding companies, navigating the executive search process, and coaching other executives. With more than 20 years of experience in the tech world, she brings insight into the progress made thus far—and the progress still to go to improve diversi…

1
We're launching our first WorkSmart Retreat! 2:47

2+ y ago2:47

2:47

We have an announcement! We're launching CEO Spring Break - a first-of-its-kind retreat this April in Nashville, Tennessee. Listen to this quick episode to hear about the event, who it's for, and how you can get involved. Make sure to join the waitlist https://www.ceospringbreak.com/ to find out as soon as registration opens and tickets go on sale!…

1
How to Get Media Coverage for Your Business in 2022 14:15

3y ago14:15

14:15

In this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, Morgan covers everything you need to know about getting media coverage for your business in the new year. Pitching your company is key to building your brand—but the secret is pitching well. To start, you need to make your goals for gaining media coverage clear and intentional. Why do you want the pr…

1
How NE-YO Created a Business Legacy Beyond the Music 42:46

3y ago42:46

42:46

In this episode, Morgan sits down with Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, and angel investor, NE-YO. Morgan and NE-YO have a beyond the music conversation about the realities of the music industry, what his day-to-day team looks like, his investment strategy, and he shares his advice as a veteran in the industry for artists and creatives who want t…

1
How to Start Building Your Personal Brand and Monetizing Your Content as a Black Creator 42:05

3y ago42:05

42:05

In this episode, Morgan sits down with her friend and 2019 WorkSmart alum Ernest B. James to discuss the creator economy and monetizing content. EJ opens up about the lessons he learned in the program and how he’s grown and transformed his business over the past two years. As the Founder and Chief Management Officer of Noire Management, a full-serv…

1
From Freelancer to Agency CEO 44:12

3y ago44:12

44:12

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by WorkSmart alum and professional ghostwriter, Nakia J.S. Thomas. In 2014, Nakia founded a small writing company that organically transformed and grew into what’s now a six-figure full-service creative agency. Today, as the founder and CEO of Few Editorial & Creative Suite, she and her team partner with high-pr…

1
How Pantora's Founder Andrea Pitter Promoted Herself Out of the ‘Day to Day’ and Became Her Business’ Chief Visionary 37:00

3y ago37:00

37:00

In this series, Morgan sits down with small business owners and WorkSmart alumni to explore how they have scaled their businesses, grown their teams, and adjusted their business models to achieve new levels of success. Andrea Pitter, Designer and Founder of Pantora Inc. joins us this week to share more about her entrepreneurial journey. Andrea is a…

1
How to Scale Your Agency to the Next Level 52:59

3y ago52:59

52:59

We're kicking off a multi-part Entrepreneur Series, highlighting WorkSmarters and their business journeys from hiring a team to scaling their revenue. Over the coming weeks, you'll get to listen in on conversations between Morgan service- and product-based entrepreneurs. They'll talk about their business models, their team structure, and why they j…

1
Building a Venture-Backed Media Company from Scratch 38:02

3+ y ago38:02

38:02

Have you ever wondered what it's like to build a media company in the modern age? Or perhaps what the future of content creation will look like? In today's episode of WorkSmart, Morgan chats with Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, co-founders and co-CEOs of theSkimm. They share how they grew The Skimm to one of the most influential media platforms …

1
How I Launched A Coaching Program 22:13

3+ y ago22:13

22:13

Get a Behind-the-Scenes look into Morgan's WorkSmart Advising Program. Find out why she launched a coaching program, how she built the program, and how you can, too. After years of receiving requests for one-on-one coaching by other entrepreneurs and small business owners, Morgan decided to create WorkSmart to provide coaching to multiple business …

1
How to Find a Startup Angel Investor and What to Look For 22:55

3+ y ago22:55

22:55

In this episode, Morgan deep dives into the topic of angel investing, which has gained more and more interest over the past years. As a passionate angel investor herself, Morgan explains what angel investing is, how to find an angel for your business, and how you should prepare before seeking and approaching angel investors. From pitch decks to ele…

1
How to Make a Financial Plan for Your Business (Before Leaving Your 9-5) 21:24

3+ y ago21:24

21:24

This week’s episode is a lesson on financial planning. Whether you’re still working your 9-5 while building your business or you’ve made the leap to full-time entrepreneur, getting clear on your cash flow and making a financial plan are imperative for success and growth. Grab your notebook and pen and dive into this episode. Also, download the free…

1
How to Run an Effective Executive Meeting 16:50

3+ y ago16:50

16:50

In this special episode, Morgan shares her advice on how to run effective meetings - whether you have a small team or a big distributed team across the country. We all know the importance of using our time effectively and meetings are no different. How much time is really necessary for an executive meeting? How do I - as the leader - start, run, an…

1
How Rashad and Troy of EYL Scaled Their Brand and Built The Biggest Business Podcast in the World 41:02

3+ y ago41:02

41:02

In this episode, Morgan sits down with the duo behind the Earn Your Leisure brand, the number one business podcast in the world. Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings didn’t start their careers with a mission to teach financial literacy, but that’s what they’ve accomplished through a podcast that’s gone viral and global. Rashad, a financial advisor, and T…

1
How Melissa Butler Grew an 8-Figure Beauty Business 49:18

3+ y ago49:18

49:18

In this episode, Morgan and Melissa Butler, CEO and Founder of the eight-figure makeup business The Lip Bar (TLB), chat everything operations – from manufacturing overseas, packaging products, cutting costs, and ultimately hitting the shelves of a retailer near you. Melissa recounts the lessons she learned along her journey to mass distribution, sh…

1
How to Hire Your First Employee 45:29

3+ y ago45:29

45:29

In this episode, Morgan sits down with her friend and Blavity’s 'early days' HR advisor, Jackie Ross. Jackie and Morgan discuss topics surrounding making your first hire as an entrepreneur, like crafting a job description, where to post the position, and how to navigate onboarding and training new hires. Morgan shares stories about Blavity’s initia…

1
How to Save 2 Hours A Day by Working Smarter 14:42

3+ y ago14:42

14:42

In this Solo episode, Morgan shares her productivity and time management hacks to help you save 2 hours per day or 8 hours per week. Implement these tips and take control of your daily schedule. As entrepreneurs, your time is money (literally) - what could you accomplish with 2 extra hours per day? If you want to learn more about Morgan’s productiv…

1
How to Be a Successful Serial Entrepreneur: In Discussion with Sophia Amoruso 35:39

3+ y ago35:39

35:39

In this episode, Morgan sits down with serial entrepreneur, NYT bestselling author, educator, and podcast host Sophia Amoruso. Morgan and Sophia discuss running e-commerce brands, building media companies, launching online courses, and angel investing. Sophia dives into her new course, Business Class, and why she now advises founders to consider bu…

1
Why your Relationship with VCs is More Than Money 55:21

3+ y ago55:21

55:21

You want to build a relationship with an investor? Listen to this joint episode interview between Morgan and Jarrid Tingle, Managing Partner of Harlem Capital. While Harlem Capital was one of Blavity Inc.’s first investors, Blavity Inc. was also one of Harlem Capital’s first investments. Morgan and Jarrid discuss their business relationship, why se…

1
How to Know When It's Time to Raise Money for Your Start-up 38:52

3+ y ago38:52

38:52

Should you or should you NOT raise venture capital? While fundraising might seem like the ‘IN’ thing to do, the decision to give up equity for capital should not be made lightly. Deciding on the next best step for your business requires strategic thinking and maybe some extra help from an advisor or mentor. In this week’s episode, Morgan takes you …

1
How to Pay Yourself As A Business Owner 15:07

3+ y ago15:07

15:07

Let’s talk money! In today’s episode, Morgan shares advice for new founders and entrepreneurs on when and how to start paying yourself. Morgan’s how-to guide for paying yourself will help you navigate the questions of salary vs. owner’s draw, why co-mingling funds is a no-go, and why you should always pay yourself from your net profits. For weekly …

1
Nikki Walton On How to Manage Stress As An Entrepreneur 39:22

3+ y ago39:22

39:22

In this episode of the WorkSmart Podcast, Morgan sits down with Nikki ‘Curly Nikki’ Walton to speak about managing your spirit and energy as an entrepreneur in today’s busy world. Nikki shares her journey through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and her advice on spiritual growth for other busy founders and CEOs. She also suggests actionable t…

1
How Morgan Harper Nichols Scaled her 7 Figure Empire as a Creative 56:06

3+ y ago56:06

56:06

In this episode, Morgan sits down with Morgan Harper Nichols, Artist - Poet - Musician extraordinaire, who has successfully bridged the gap from creative to entrepreneur. In the age of digitalization, creatives now have the unique opportunity to display their art, build community, and monetize their creations. Morgan shares her advice for creatives…

1
Does Your Business Need a CTO? 43:46

3+ y ago43:46

43:46

In this episode of the WorkSmart Podcast, Morgan sits down with her business partner and co-founder, Jeff Nelson. Growing up in the 90s on the south side of Chicago as the youngest of 9 kids, an interest in computers and technology was certainly not the norm for Jeff. At an early age, Jeff began building computers and diving head-first into technol…

1
How To Build a Strategic Plan For Your Business This Year 25:11

4y ago25:11

25:11

Morgan DeBaun introduces WorkSmart (and herself), looks back on her challenges and successes in 2020, running a media company, and gives you an idea of what to expect in 2021. This episode also provides strategic questions you should be asking yourself as you kick off planning for your personal and business goals.…

1
Trailer: WorkSmart with Morgan DeBaun 2:01

4y ago2:01

2:01

We all want to get to the next level of our business, but so many of us get stuck. The WorkSmart Podcast is specifically designed to help established entrepreneurs get the guidance, accountability, tools, and methodologies needed to accelerate their growth and create a sustainable lifestyle. Executive and entrepreneur, Morgan DeBaun, takes you insi…

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