OTS 243: Run an Experiment – Stephanie Sims

Today’s guest helps entrepreneurs tell economic stories that make dollars…and sense. After nearly a decade in investment banking and having worked with Goldman, Lehman, and CSFB on over $5 billion of transactions, she rode the high tech startup rollercoaster in Europe, complete with angels, venture capitalists, and the coveted exit to a publicly traded company. She […]

The post OTS 243: Run an Experiment – Stephanie Sims appeared first on Robbie Samuels.

Today’s guest helps entrepreneurs tell economic stories that make dollars…and sense.

After nearly a decade in investment banking and having worked with Goldman, Lehman, and CSFB on over $5 billion of transactions, she rode the high tech startup rollercoaster in Europe, complete with angels, venture capitalists, and the coveted exit to a publicly traded company.

She then founded Finance-Ability, which upends traditional capital raising methods by providing entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and self-awareness to find the right kind of funding for their business. She  has educated and mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs across three continents and has helped her clients raise over $30 million dollars in early stage capital.

She is the host of “What's Your Ask?” podcast where she talks to investors and entrepreneurs about the different ways they've asked and been asked for money, references, introductions and more. She is also the author of “Funding Your Business Without Selling Your Soul”.

Please join me in welcoming Stephanie Sims.

Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration!

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is equal parts inspiration and risks/action-taking.”
how a bad decision by some students in her high school led her to organize an event for her graduating class and set her on a leadership path.
her history of getting involved in school and using that as an opportunity to learn more.
her initial dream of being a doctor and how a class in her summer camp saved her 10 years of her life and changed her career trajectory.
her keen observation skills while choosing a path in her career.
how her parents selling their business opened her eyes to launching a new business.
her observations about how people pivot and jump on opportunities during the pandemic.
how she encourages people to shift their mindset from “I’m going to take a risk” to “I’m going to run an experiment”.
how having multiple revenue streams serves entrepreneurs.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.

Links

Stephanie Sims on LinkedIn and Twitter.
www.stephaniesims.com

Books mentioned in this episode:

“Funding Your Business Without Selling Your Soul” by Stephanie Sims

Other Resources

Listen to my episode with Dorie Clark.

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About Robbie:

Robbie Samuels wrote “How to Host a Virtual a Happy Hour” for Harvard Business Review, was quoted in “The History of the Webinar and Why It Should Be History” in Forbes, and recognized as an “industry expert in the field of digital event design” by JDC Events. He is a Certified Virtual Convener and Certified Virtual Presenter.

As a Virtual Event Design Consultant and Executive Zoom Producer, he assists organizations with bringing their in-person events strategically online. He provides virtual event design strategy, emceeing, production (managing the tech, including chat and breakout rooms), and training/supporting presenters.

His clients include national and statewide advocacy organizations, including the California WIC Association, Feeding America, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Association of Talent & Development chapter, The National At-Home Dad Network, the California Notary Symposium, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.

He created The 5% Advantage Program, a four-week certification program that helps presenters and meeting professionals grow in their confidence with Zoom, online facilitation, and virtual event design so they can reduce their tech angst and host more engaging online experiences. Participants have the opportunity to become Certified Virtual Event Professional #NoMoreBadZoom.

Since March 13, 2020, he has hosted #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hours, a weekly virtual event that explores new ways to design engaging virtual experiences while creating opportunities for networking. This event attracts 50-60 participants each week, 50% of them have attended 8 or more times, 20% have attended more than 20 times.

PRE- AND BEYOND VIRTUAL EVENTS

Robbie is also a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and business growth strategistwho has been recognized as a “networking expert” by Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Lifehacker, and Inc. He is the author of the best-selling business book Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences and has been profiled in the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company. He writes for Harvard Business Review Ascend.

He has been featured in several books including Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It by Dorie Clark and The Connector’s Advantage: 7 Mindsets to Grow Your Influence and Impact by Michelle Tillis Lederman. Since 2016, Robbie has hosted his On the Schmooze podcast which features his interviews with talented professionals sharing their untold stories of leadership and networking.

He has guest lectured at many leading educational institutions including Harvard University, Brown University, Cornell University, and Northeastern University. He has presented for associations, women’s leadership summits, and corporations including Marriott, AmeriCorps, Hostelling International, and General Assembly.

READ his “9 Ways to Network in a Pandemic” – www.robbiesamuels.com/9ways

SIGN UP for his free weekly #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hours – www.NoMoreBadZoom.com

Keynote Speaker

Interested in booking Robbie to speak? At www.robbiesamuels.com/speaking you’ll find video clips and a description of his signature session, Art of the Schmooze. Call 617-600-8240 to speak directly with Robbie.

Watch his TEDx talk “Hate networking? Stop bageling and be the croissant!” at www.robbiesamuels.com/TEDx.

The 5% Advantage Program – #NoMoreBadZoom

Are virtual events a big part of your business plan? People have started to be less forgiving when it comes to bad Zoom, causing “Zoom fatigue.”

You need the confidence and skills to up your game. The problem is that there are so many new pieces of technology to master quickly that you can feel stuck, overwhelmed, and like you’re running out of time.
The reason options are overwhelming is that you’re trying to go from zero to 100 immediately, when — to make the most of your time — focusing on getting 5% better every time you host would allow you to focus on the most important and highest-impact options.
Why? Because you know it’s true that if you try to do everything, you will accomplish nothing. This means, to achieve your goal, you have to invest in a strategy to put time on your side.
How? The 5% Advantage Program teaches online facilitation and virtual event design, but even more so, give you the tools for reflection and continuous improvement.
Through this interactive and experiential 4-week program you will grow in your confidence with Zoom, online facilitation, and virtual event design so you can reduce your tech angst and host more engaging online experiences that meet the purpose of the convening and participants’ need for content and connection.
The time to start getting 5% better is now because you will be sought out, not just for your expertise, but for your ability to deliver that expertise on an interactive virtual platform.
Interested to learn more about this program and get on the waitlist? Details at www.the5percentadvantage.com.

Business Growth Strategist & Business Coach

As a relationship-based business growth strategist, I work directly with a limited number of self-employed professionals, aka solopreneurs.

WHO YOU ARE:

You want to have a greater impact and increased income. The problem is that there are so many options for how to build your business that you can feel stuck, overwhelmed, and like you’re running out of time.

The reason options are overwhelming is that you’re looking at them as a series of disconnected steps, when to make the most of your time, you need a strategy that connects only the most important and highest impact ones.

You know that if you try to do everything, you’ll accomplish nothing. This means, to achieve your goal, you have to invest in a strategy to put time on your side.

What’s Included:

As a relationship-based business growth strategist, I will work with you to design a year-long plan that consists of three 12-week sprints, each followed by 4 weeks of reflection/assessment, rejuvenation/vacation, and strategic planning. This will allow you to sequence your goals, create momentum, and leverage your limited time.

We can build your plan through a half-day strategy session, a coaching engagement, or a mastermind program.

These are not right for everyone; they’re personalized offerings and are priced accordingly.

What might you work on?

In my coaching work with entrepreneurs and solopreneurs, we focus on the areas where you’d like to grow, which may include:

Creating a strong sales conversation framework
Building your referral network
Lead generation through a relationships
Growing your visibility in your industry
Increasing your ability to attract the right kind of clients
Identifying and launching a minimally-viable offer
Breaking through whatever bottleneck is holding you back from getting the results you want and deserve
Becoming a published author and marketing your book successfully
Improving your virtual presentation skills

Ready to get started or have questions? Contact me. I’m excited to support you in reaching or exceeding your goals.

Stay Connected:

Connect with Robbie on LinkedIn
@RobbieSamuels on Twitter and Instagram
New to his website? Start here
On the Schmooze podcast archive – weekly since July 2016!

Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links above are “affiliate links”. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my listeners. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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The post OTS 243: Run an Experiment – Stephanie Sims appeared first on Robbie Samuels.