Finding Fearless Madeline Reeves

In this episode Madeline talks to Meredith Fennessy Witts, founder of Le Chéile, about one of the most important and ignored topics while building businesses: Financial Fluency. They cover topics such as the accidental path to becoming an entrepreneur, the importance of community and mentorship, financial fluency for business owners, and the challenges and strategies of scaling a business. Meredith shares her personal story, including her background, how she navigated the transition from corporate roles to founding her own company, and the lessons learned along the way. The discussion also touches Meredith’s experiences working with clients on navigating them through financial fluency and making a safe space for founders to talk about their shortcomings with their business finance goals and grip. Meredith emphasizes the importance of making informed decisions, trusting the process, and ensuring that the business serves the life you want to live.


00:00 Welcome to Finding Fearless with Meredith Fennessy Witz
00:27 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Meredith's Story
04:22 Navigating the Path of Entrepreneurship
09:28 Building Leschelles: A Mission-Driven Agency
11:42 The Importance of Financial Fluency for Entrepreneurs
40:05 Community and Growth: The Evolution of Le Chéile
54:01 Finding Fearlessness in Entrepreneurship


Finding Fearless is an exploration of human-centric leadership and a celebration of ambition, releasing every other week on Wednesdays, 6AM PST. If you liked the show, please rate, review, and share! You can also visit our website to learn more about how to become a sponsor of Finding Fearless!


Finding Fearless is produced by Fearless Foundry, a creative consultancy focused on advancing ambitious humans from around the globe to amplify their impact through branding, marketing, and business development. You can contact us at hello@fearlessfoundry.com if you are interested in our services and can follow us on all social media @fearlessfoundry.



Season 4 music is by Premium Beats. All audio is recorded and owned by Fearless Foundry.

In this episode, Madeline converses with an absolute badass, Martha Shaughnessy of the The Key PR, discussing her unconventional path to becoming a founder, her experiences navigating the tech industry as a woman, and managing work-life integration as a mom. Martha's background in cultural anthropology and sports shaped her unique perspective on team dynamics and storytelling in marketing and communications. The discussion also touches on the importance of mental and physical health, the challenges of maintaining a work-life balance in the face of societal and business pressures, and the transformative power of showing vulnerability in leadership. Both the host and Martha share insights on navigating the complexities of leading businesses in a patriarchal society, the impact of acknowledging one's limitations, and the significance of genuine connections in professional settings.



00:57 The Genesis of The Key: From Cultural Anthropology to Tech
03:37 The Power of Sports: Lessons from the Soccer Field
07:24 Navigating Parenthood and Professional Ambitions
12:25 The Role of Coaching in Founding and Running a Business
14:23 Navigating the Pandemic: Leadership and Adaptability
20:21 The Balancing Act: Tactics for Managing Work and Life
29:57 Storytelling and Creativity in Business
30:40 The Art of Storytelling in Business and Personal Life
31:35 Navigating Corporate Cultures with Anthropology
32:19 The Challenges of Communication in Tech and Personal Finance
35:08 The Journey of Entrepreneurship and Female Solidarity
35:56 Embracing Matriarchal Leadership in a Patriarchal Business World
40:48 Navigating the Complex Landscape of Modern Business
54:54 Finding Fearless: Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity


Finding Fearless is an exploration of human-centric leadership and a celebration of ambition, releasing every other week on Wednesdays, 6AM PST. If you liked the show, please rate, review, and share! You can also visit our website to learn more about how to become a sponsor of Finding Fearless!


Finding Fearless is produced by Fearless Foundry, a creative consultancy focused on advancing ambitious humans from around the globe to amplify their impact through branding, marketing, and business development. You can contact us at hello@fearlessfoundry.com if you are interested in our services and can follow us on all social media @fearlessfoundry.



Season 4 music is by Premium Beats. All audio is recorded and owned by Fearless Foundry.

In this episode, Madeline chats with McKenna Haz, the founder of Seaav, a sustainability-focused activewear brand, born from McKenna's passion for the ocean and sustainability. Growing up on Vancouver Island, Canada, McKenna was motivated by the Fukushima earthquake's environmental impact to take action. She launched Seaav from her college dorm, combining her interests in activewear, the ocean, and sustainability. McKenna discusses the challenges of balancing college, sports, and starting a business, the importance of pitch competitions and grants in her early success, and the evolution of her company's mission and strategies. She emphasizes the significance of core values, the role of networking and mentorship, adapting to the changing landscape of social media marketing, and the focus on collaborative collections with influencers for future growth. McKenna shares her commitment to sustainability, her learning journey as a young entrepreneur, and her strategies for maintaining well-being through journaling and running.




00:00 McKenna's Entrepreneurial Journey Begins
00:19 From Childhood Passion to Entrepreneurial Venture: The Birth of Seaav
01:41 Juggling College, Sports, and Starting a Company: The Early Days of Seaav.
04:09 The Growth of Seaav: Building a Sustainable Fashion Brand
04:54 Understanding Core Values and Building a Team
08:47 Expanding the Team and Overcoming Challenges
15:15 Learning from Mistakes: Navigating Team Dynamics and Remote Work
21:32 The Evolution of Seaav's Fashion Line and Understanding the Core Customer
31:07 Navigating the Greenwashing Landscape
33:06 The Journey of Attracting Investors
37:19 Leveraging Networking for Business Growth
46:19 Mastering Social Media and Influencer Marketing
55:18 Looking Ahead: 2024 Brand Strategies and Personal Growth


Finding Fearless is an exploration of human-centric leadership and a celebration of ambition, releasing every other week on Wednesdays, 6AM PST. If you liked the show, please rate, review, and share! You can also visit our website to learn more about how to become a sponsor of Finding Fearless!


Finding Fearless is produced by Fearless Foundry, a creative consultancy focused on advancing ambitious humans from around the globe to amplify their impact through branding, marketing, and business development. You can contact us at hello@fearlessfoundry.com if you are interested in our services and can follow us on all social media @fearlessfoundry.



Season 4 music is by Premium Beats. All audio is recorded and owned by Fearless Foundry.

In Today’s episode, Madeline is in conversation with Belinda Ephraim, the founder of Katalyst Point Advisors. Belinda shares her personal journey into entrepreneurship, starting from her early days in Nigeria. Her experiences working as a senior analyst with a wealth advisor during the AOL & Time Warner Merger intrigued her about the potential of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), which led her to establish her own firm. She outlines the importance of preparing business owners for M&As and also touches on her other entrepreneurial venture - a luxury skincare brand named KOKOBERNA. Through her professional journey, Belinda has adopted a strategic approach to business, focusing on its long-term prospects and planning for an exit strategy well in advance. The conversation also covers the state of the current M&A market, the importance of comprehensive due diligence, and the potential pitfalls for unprepared sellers.



00:00 Introduction and Getting to Know the Guest
00:29 Belinda's Journey to Self-Discovery
00:59 Belinda's Career Path in M&A
06:21 Belinda's Personal Struggles and Triumphs
10:01 Belinda's Unique Approach to Mergers and Acquisitions
14:29 The Importance of Exit Strategy in Business
15:13 Key Factors to Make a Business Exit Ready
28:35 The Importance of Succession Planning
29:28 Understanding Business Perception vs Reality
31:49 The Role of Personal and Financial Standpoints in Business
32:19 The Challenges of Minority-Owned Businesses
34:55 The Impact of Certifications on Business Value
35:39 The Influence of Founding a Brand on Business Advising
41:09 The Trends and Future of Mergers and Acquisitions
50:54 The Role of Fearlessness in Entrepreneurship
53:48 Connecting with Catalyst Point Advisors


Finding Fearless is an exploration of human-centric leadership and a celebration of ambition, releasing every other week on Wednesdays, 6AM PST. If you liked the show, please rate, review, and share! You can also visit our website to learn more about how to become a sponsor of Finding Fearless!


Finding Fearless is produced by Fearless Foundry, a creative consultancy focused on advancing ambitious humans from around the globe to amplify their impact through branding, marketing, and business development. You can contact us at hello@fearlessfoundry.com if you are interested in our services and can follow us on all social media @fearlessfoundry.



Season 4 music is by Premium Beats. All audio is recorded and owned by Fearless Foundry.

In today’s episode, Madeline converses with Podge, a Notion consultant, Fractional COO, and the founder of Small Business Co-Pilot. Podge narrates how her journey as a founder, is informed by the awareness of her ancestors' struggle for rights and freedoms she now enjoys, and how she's motivated and humbled by the privilege to live and work in the way she does today. In conversation, Madeline & Podge also delve into her freelance journey and how colonialism and imperialism can manifest within the workplace. Podge emphasizes the importance of developing atmospheres of transparency, collaboration, and learning in the workplace instead of siloed and controlling environments. She further shares her approach to reframing work as a place where individuals learn and grow instead of focusing purely on productivity. Finally, Podge discusses a new guide she has developed that focuses on employee stewardship, hiring, onboarding, managing, and separating as a means to decolonize the workplace.



00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
00:29 Guest's Personal Journey and Ancestry
02:25 Emotional Break and Regrouping
03:27 Guest's Perspective on Privilege and Disadvantage
03:52 Impact of Colonialism and Imperialism on Work Culture
05:33 Guest's Transition from Traditional Employment to Entrepreneurship
06:00 The Role of Notion in Creating Transparent and Collaborative Work Environments
06:16 Discussion on the Need for Change in the Business World
06:53 Critique of Capitalism and Profitability Models
08:20 Challenges with the Traditional 40-hour Work Week
11:05 The Importance of Thought and Discussion in the Workplace
13:37 Decolonizing the Workplace: An Introduction
14:06 Practical Steps to Decolonize the Hiring Process
23:18 Reimagining Power Dynamics in Business
28:46 Transforming the Workplace into a Learning Place
30:27 Aligning Personal Passion with Company Mission
30:54 Creating a Culture of Perfection vs. Learning
31:42 Reframing Work as a Place for Growth
33:00 Rethinking Turnover and Embracing Change
33:40 The Importance of Dignity in Employee Separation
34:09 Employee Stewardship and the Impact on Business
35:20 The Balance of Vulnerability in Leadership
38:04 The Struggles of Fem Identified Leaders
41:21 The Power of Clear Communication and Boundaries
51:58 Decolonizing the Workplace: A Vision for the Future
52:37 The Role of Operations in Employee Stewardship
55:23 Finding Fearlessness in Rest and Reflection


Finding Fearless is an exploration of human-centric leadership and a celebration of ambition, releasing every other week on Wednesdays, 6AM PST. If you liked the show, please rate, review, and share! You can also visit our website to learn more about how to become a sponsor of Finding Fearless!


Finding Fearless is produced by Fearless Foundry, a creative consultancy focused on advancing ambitious humans from around the globe to amplify their impact through branding, marketing, and business development. You can contact us at hello@fearlessfoundry.com if you are interested in our services and can follow us on all social media @fearlessfoundry.



Season 4 music is by Premium Beats. All audio is recorded and owned by Fearless Foundry.

On this week’s episode, Madeline chats with Dr. Gertrude Lyons, Founder & CEO of Rewrite The Mother Code, about tapping into innate our feminine power, both personally and in our roles as leaders. Known for her work in women's leadership development, relationship satisfaction, and parenting, Dr. Lyons talks about her journey that led her to focus on empowering individuals and families to realize satisfying lives. She discusses the importance of self-care and self-reflection and the potential for transformation in women's lives. The conversation also examines how feminine power impacts business models and creates valuable change, and why it is important to involve men in this new paradigm.


00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
01:41 The Journey to Self-Discovery
04:27 The Impact of Premarital Counseling
08:33 The Transition from Career to Motherhood
10:35 The Awakening to Women's Empowerment
12:05 The Struggle of Losing Self in Motherhood
14:26 The Power of Mothering Energy
23:46 The Trap of 'Having It All'
30:22 Redefining Joy and Stress in Motherhood
30:44 The Pressure of Societal Expectations
31:14 Reclaiming Time and Energy
31:43 The Joy of Mothering and Choosing How to Spend Time
32:11 The Power of Choice and Cultural Paradigms
34:11 The Role of Emotions in Decision Making
35:34 Shifting Paradigms and Embracing Feminine Energy in Business
45:47 The Role of Men in Embracing Feminine Power
52:54 Finding Fearless in Different Seasons of Life
56:53 The Importance of Self-Care and Tuning into Nature


Finding Fearless is an exploration of human-centric leadership and a celebration of ambition, releasing every other week on Wednesdays, 6AM PST. If you liked the show, please rate, review, and share! You can also visit our website to learn more about how to become a sponsor of Finding Fearless!


Finding Fearless is produced by Fearless Foundry, a creative consultancy focused on advancing ambitious humans from around the globe to amplify their impact through branding, marketing, and business development. You can contact us at hello@fearlessfoundry.com if you are interested in our services and can follow us on all social media @fearlessfoundry.



Season 4 music is by Premium Beats. All audio is recorded and owned by Fearless Foundry.