ECE to CEO

Carla Ward
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship

ECE to CEO is the podcast for early childhood educators who know they have something more they want to build and are ready to figure out how to actually build it.Hosted by Carla Ward, early childhood educator turned entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, course creator, and podcast host, ECE to CEO is an honest look at what it takes to turn your experience, ideas, and expertise into a business.Carla shares the strategies that worked, the mistakes that cost time and money, the ideas that completely flopped, and the decisions that helped grow a business and brand beyond the classroom. From creating workshops and consulting offers to launching podcasts, courses, events, and new income streams, nothing is off limits.This isn’t entrepreneurship wrapped up in a perfect little bow. We’re talking about figuring things out before you feel ready, starting with what you have, changing direction when something isn’t working, and learning how to run the business—not just dream about having one.We’re going to do it scrappy when scrappy makes sense. We’re going to do it properly where properly matters. And we’re going to stop waiting until everything is perfect before we start. You already know early childhood education.Now let’s build the CEO part.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    How to Build Your First ECE Workshop

    In this episode of ECE to CEO, Carla Ward walks through her approach to developing professional development workshops, drawing on her experience creating and delivering sessions such as YES Spaces and Breaking the Praise Loop. Carla shares why she sometimes builds an entire workshop before pitching it, while other times she pitches an idea first and develops the content once an organization expresses interest. She also explores how to narrow down a broad topic, identify what participants should take away, incorporate opportunities for adult learning, and create presentations that support the conversation rather than dominate it. Whether you're developing your first workshop or looking to improve one you've already created, this episode will help you think more intentionally about the learning experience you're offering. IN THIS EPISODE Deciding whether to build your workshop before or after pitching it Choosing a topic and narrowing your focus Identifying what educators should take away from the experience Researching your content and acknowledging your sources Creating opportunities for meaningful adult learning Designing slides that support your presentation Practising, gathering feedback, and refining your workshop over time Understanding the preparation time involved in workshop development YOUR ECE TO CEO CHALLENGE Choose one topic you could see yourself presenting as a professional development workshop. Before opening Canva or PowerPoint, write down: Your audience: Who is this workshop for? Your intended outcome: What do you want participants to understand or do differently after attending? One learning opportunity: How could participants engage with the information through reflection, observation, or discussion? You don't need to create the entire workshop this week. Start by developing a clear idea of what you want educators to take away. CONNECT WITH CARLA Website: www.carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece LinkedIn: Connect with Carla Ward ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? Follow ECE to CEO on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube so you don't miss a new episode every Wednesday. If you found this episode helpful, share it with an educator who's thinking about turning their experience and expertise into a business.

  2. Oct 28

    How Much Should You Charge? Knowing Your Worth as an ECE Entrepreneur

    Pricing your expertise can be one of the most challenging parts of becoming an ECE entrepreneur. How do you charge what your work is worth while remaining mindful of the budgets of the educators and organizations you want to support? In this episode of ECE to CEO, Carla Ward shares her experiences navigating workshop fees, negotiating with organizations, and pricing online courses and digital products. She also discusses why knowing your numbers matters, how to approach conversations about limited budgets, and why being flexible doesn't mean you have to undervalue your expertise. In This Episode:Why pricing workshops in early childhood education can be complicated How to establish standard rates and non-negotiable minimums What to consider when negotiating with organizations How to work backwards from revenue goals when pricing digital products Why preparation time, experience, and business expenses matter Exploring group rates and mutually beneficial exchanges Setting boundaries around complimentary workshops Your ECE to CEO Challenge:This week, take a closer look at your pricing. If you're offering workshops or consulting services, write down your standard rate and the lowest amount you're willing to accept. Consider the preparation, customization, expenses, and experience that go into delivering your services. If you're creating an online course or digital product, start with a revenue goal. Calculate how many sales you'd need to make at three different price points. Then ask yourself: Does my pricing support both the people I want to serve and the business I'm trying to build? You don't need to have every number figured out today, but you do need to understand what your business needs to remain sustainable. Connect with Carla: Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheeceLinkedIn: Carla WardEnjoyed This Episode?Follow ECE to CEO on your favourite podcast platform so you don't miss future conversations about building and growing a business in early childhood education. And if this episode helped you think differently about pricing, share it with another ECE entrepreneur who might benefit from the conversation!

  3. Oct 21

    How to Pitch Your First ECE Workshop

    Ready to start getting hired to deliver workshops for early childhood educators but not sure how to get your foot in the door? In this episode of ECE to CEO, Carla Ward shares how she started pitching workshops, what she's learned over seven years of speaking, and the advice she gives her consulting clients who want to break into the ECE speaking world. From identifying the right organizations to building relationships before sending that first email, Carla walks through the steps to getting started. She also shares why following up matters, how podcasts can help create speaking opportunities, and why waiting until everything is perfect might be holding you back. In This Episode: How to create a dream list of organizations to pitch Why knowing your workshop topic, audience, and purpose matters How to build genuine connections before sending cold emails Why guest appearances on podcasts can lead to speaking opportunities How to follow up and use Airtable to track pitches Why consistently telling people about your workshops is essential to getting hired Resources Mentioned: Airtable: https://airtable.com/invite/r/JCGEysvH — A tool for organizing speaking pitches, tracking follow-ups, and managing potential opportunities. Your ECE to CEO Challenge: Start building a list of organizations you'd love to work with. Get clear on the workshop you want to offer, who it's for, and why it matters. Then, make pitching a weekly habit. Aim for five pitches a week, and don't forget to follow up! Connect with Carla: Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece Enjoyed This Episode? Follow the ECE to CEO Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, and share it with another early childhood educator who's ready to start building a business. Your voice deserves to be heard. Happy pitching!

  4. Oct 14

    Why Every ECE Entrepreneur Needs an Email List

    You don't own your social media followers. If Instagram crashes, an algorithm changes, or a platform disappears, how will you stay connected with your audience? In this episode of ECE to CEO, Carla Ward shares why building an email list should be one of your first priorities when starting an early childhood education business. An email list isn't about collecting hundreds or thousands of addresses. It's about building relationships, establishing trust, and connecting with people who genuinely want to learn from you. Carla shares how she grew her email list from her mom and sister to approximately 4,000 subscribers, why giving away valuable content is an investment in your business, and why ECE entrepreneurs need to get comfortable selling their expertise. In this episode: Why relying entirely on social media is risky for your businessHow to give people a reason to join your email listUsing free resources, podcasts, blogs, and newsletters to attract subscribersWhy consistency matters more than how often you send emailsBuilding relationships and trust before making a saleWhy you shouldn't wait until you have hundreds of subscribersGetting comfortable promoting your paid services and productsWhy unsubscribes aren't something to take personallyChoosing an email marketing platform and understanding subscriber consentResources mentioned: Kit (formerly ConvertKit) – The email marketing platform Carla uses to manage subscribers, create landing pages, and schedule emails. Mailchimp – Another email marketing platform to explore. Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) – Information about consent, unsubscribe requirements, and email marketing in Canada. Your ECE to CEO challenge: If you haven't started an email list, start exploring your options this week. Think about who you want to reach, what you can offer them, and how you'll continue building that relationship. And if you already have a list but haven't emailed your subscribers in a while, maybe it's time to reconnect. Connect with Carla: Website: https://www.carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece Enjoyed this episode? Follow ECE to CEO on your favourite podcast platform and share it with an ECE who's building a business.

    Why Every ECE Entrepreneur Needs an Email List

  5. Oct 7

    Your Customer Can’t Buy From You If They Can’t Find You

    You know who you want to work with. But do they know how to work with you? In this episode of ECE to CEO, Carla talks about understanding your ideal customer and taking a closer look at the journey they take to find you, connect with you, and ultimately work with you. From your Instagram bio to your website, inquiry forms, podcast and email list, every step matters. Carla also shares why making it easy to buy from you doesn’t mean giving everyone unlimited access to your time and what she changed in her own business after one too many no-shows. Your homework this week: go through your own customer journey as if you’ve never seen your business before. How easy is it to take the next step?

    Your Customer Can’t Buy From You If They Can’t Find You

  6. Sep 30

    Pilot Episode

    Welcome to ECE to CEO—the podcast for ECEs with ideas, expertise, and that little voice telling them there might be something more. In this quick pilot episode, I’m sharing why I created this podcast, who it’s for, and the one lesson we’re putting into practice from day one: done is better than perfect. We’re going to talk business, visibility, money, mistakes, figuring things out as we go, and building something without spending thousands of dollars trying to learn it all. No pretending we have it all figured out. We’re doing it scrappy. We’re getting it done. Let’s get you a business.

    Pilot Episode
  • 6 Episodes

About

ECE to CEO is the podcast for early childhood educators who know they have something more they want to build and are ready to figure out how to actually build it.Hosted by Carla Ward, early childhood educator turned entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, course creator, and podcast host, ECE to CEO is an honest look at what it takes to turn your experience, ideas, and expertise into a business.Carla shares the strategies that worked, the mistakes that cost time and money, the ideas that completely flopped, and the decisions that helped grow a business and brand beyond the classroom. From creating workshops and consulting offers to launching podcasts, courses, events, and new income streams, nothing is off limits.This isn’t entrepreneurship wrapped up in a perfect little bow. We’re talking about figuring things out before you feel ready, starting with what you have, changing direction when something isn’t working, and learning how to run the business—not just dream about having one.We’re going to do it scrappy when scrappy makes sense. We’re going to do it properly where properly matters. And we’re going to stop waiting until everything is perfect before we start. You already know early childhood education.Now let’s build the CEO part.

Information

  • Creator
    Carla Ward
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Carla Ward

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