Build Your Own Boat

Janine Vanderburg
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Entrepreneurship

An entrepreneurship podcast for women in midlife and beyond. What if the most powerful thing you could do right now — for your finances, your freedom, and your future — was to stop waiting for someone else to hand you an opportunity and start building your own? Build Your Own Boat is the podcast for women in midlife and beyond who are done playing by rules that were never written with them in mind. Hosted by award-winning 3x entrepreneur Janine Vanderburg, each episode features real conversations with women in midlife and beyond who made the bold decision to bet on themselves — launching businesses and creative ventures, building wealth, and rewriting what entrepreneurship looks like in the second half of life. This isn't a podcast about hustle culture or overnight success stories. It's a roadmap — built from lived experience, hard-won wisdom, and the kind of honest conversation you rarely hear anywhere else. Guests include founders, consultants, creatives, coaches, media makers, and civic leaders who are proving every week that midlife isn't a ceiling. It's a launchpad. Whether you're just beginning to wonder if entrepreneurship is for you, actively building your business, or simply looking for proof that it's not too late — you'll find it here. Every episode, you'll discover: 1. How real women in midlife launched and grew successful ventures — and what they wish they'd known sooner 2. Practical strategies for building financial independence and freedom on your own terms 3. Honest conversations about the challenges of midlife entrepreneurship, and how to navigate them 4. Inspiration that's grounded in reality, not motivational posters The Encore Economy is booming — and women in midlife are driving it. Build Your Own Boat is where their stories live. Subscribe now and join a growing community of women who are building something that's entirely, unapologetically theirs. And do SUBSCRIBE to Build Your Own Boat on Substack as well, to read the full stories of our guests, and their best tips and resources. https://buildyourownboat.substack.com/

  1. Jun 25

    How One Ad Executive Built a Business Around the Customers Everyone Else Was Ignoring — With Susan Colby of Grace Creative

    Episode Summary Most advertising agencies chase the youngest consumers in the room. Susan Colby built a thriving creative agency by doing the exact opposite. This episode of Build Your Own Boat explores how Susan — a veteran of iconic agencies including Chiat\Day and BBDO — left the traditional ad world, raised her children, and returned in her late 40s with a radical idea: that women over 50 are the most powerful, most overlooked, and most underserved consumer demographic in America. Susan founded Grace Creative LA, a boutique agency specializing in marketing to women 50+, at a time when the industry was still chasing millennials. She shares how she turned deep personal experience, hard data, and a strong creative network into a growing business — winning major clients like Golden Door Spa and Seabourn Cruise Line — and why she believes marketing to the longevity economy isn't just the right thing to do. It's the smartest business move a brand can make. Key Takeaways Women over 50 control enormous spending power — they make more than 85% of household buying decisions, hold an estimated $19 trillion in assets, and account for roughly 70% of consumer spending, yet receive less than 10% of advertising budgets. The gap is a massive business opportunity.Lived experience is a competitive advantage, not a liability. Susan's team members are often part of the very demographic they market to — which means they understand the audience from the inside out, not from a research deck. That authenticity is what Grace Creative calls its "unfair advantage.""Middle essence" reframes midlife as a launch point, not a wind-down. Inspired by the research of Barbara Waxman, Grace Creative uses the concept of middle essence — the idea that women in their 50s are going through a powerful identity shift and emerging with more clarity, confidence, and resources than ever before — to create campaigns that actually resonate.Getting your first clients is messy, and that's okay. Susan's breakthrough client, Golden Door Spa, came through a connection made by her husband — a reminder that real-world entrepreneurship is built on networks, relationships, and saying yes to the room you're already in.Building a multi-generational team matters. Grace Creative intentionally hires across generations. Diverse age perspectives make the work stronger, reduce blind spots, and model the very inclusion the agency champions for its clients.About Susan Colby Susan Colby is the founder of Grace Creative LA, a boutique advertising and marketing agency based in Los Angeles that specializes in reaching women over 50. Susan spent the early years of her career at some of the most respected agencies in the country, including Chiat\Day, BBDO, and RPA, working on major brands including Apple Computer. After stepping away to raise her children and doing marketing work for independent schools, she returned to the industry in her late 40s — and rather than quietly fit back in, she saw a gap that no one else was addressing. She launched Grace Creative around a single, data-backed insight: that women over 50 are the most economically powerful consumer demographic in America, and they were almost entirely invisible in mainstream advertising. Since then, Grace Creative has worked with clients including Golden Door Spa — producing a campaign with legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz — and Seabourn, the ultra-luxury cruise line, winning a competitive pitch against ten other agencies. Susan is also an age activist, a champion of multi-generational workplaces, and the co-creator of Girls Gone 50, a social media community on Instagram and Facebook built to authentically connect with and celebrate women in the 50+ demographic. Frequently Asked Questions Why are women over 50 such a valuable consumer demographic? Women over 50 make more than 85% of household purchasing decisions and collectively hold an estimated $19 trillion in assets. According to AARP economists, the economic output of Americans aged 50 and older would rank as the third-largest economy in the world, behind only the U.S. overall and China. Despite this, advertising budgets directed at this group remain disproportionately small — often under 10% of total spend — making it one of the most underleveraged opportunities in marketing today. What is middlescence and why does it matter in marketing? Middlecence is a concept — associated with researcher and author Barbara Waxman — that reframes the years around and after 50 as a period of identity renewal rather than decline. Women at this stage are often becoming empty nesters, navigating career transitions, and stepping into a new sense of freedom and purpose. Grace Creative uses this insight to develop campaigns that feel authentic to where women actually are in their lives, rather than defaulting to anti-aging narratives or generic "active senior" tropes. How did Susan Colby start Grace Creative? Susan built Grace Creative gradually — tapping her existing network of creative, account, and business professionals from her advertising career, building a focused website, and honing a clear mission. Her first major client, Golden Door Spa, came through a warm connection. From there, she competed — and won — on the strength of her positioning and creative insight, including a competitive pitch against ten agencies for the Seabourn account, which she has held for nearly five years. Is ageism in advertising getting better? According to Susan, yes — slowly. Beauty and fashion brands, including Estée Lauder and L'Oréal, have been early adopters in speaking to the 50+ audience. More brands are now reviewing their consumer data and recognizing that their highest-spending, most loyal customers are in this demographic. However, Susan notes that true progress means moving beyond tokenism — one gray-haired model in a campaign — toward authentic representation that reflects the full range of experiences women have at this life stage. What advice does Susan have for women over 50 considering entrepreneurship? Susan puts it directly: ageism in the workplace often forces the issue — if you want to keep working and contributing, building your own boat may be the most viable path forward. But the upside is that you also get to build the kind of business you actually want. For Grace Creative, that meant building a culture grounded in resilience, grace, and genuine respect — qualities that Susan felt were undervalued in the agencies she had worked for earlier in her career. Resource Stack Grace Creative LA — Full-service boutique agency specializing in the 50+ demographic: gracecreativela.comGirls Gone 50 — Instagram and Facebook community celebrating and connecting women 50+: https://www.girlsgone50.com/Barbara Waxman — Researcher, author, and speaker on the concept of middle essence and the power of life's second half: barbarawaxman.comStanford Center on Longevity — Research institution focused on the science of longer lives and the longevity economy: longevity.stanford.eduAARP Longevity Economy Research — Data and research on the economic power of Americans 50+:

    34 min

  2. Jun 25

    How Do You Build a Business Around Your Values — and Actually Live Them? | Angelle Fouther of Kindred Communications

    Episode Summary What does it look like to launch a strategic communications firm in the middle of a global pandemic — and build it entirely around a commitment to equity and social justice? Angelle Fouther did exactly that when she co-founded Kindred Communications in 2020 with her daughter, Darren. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, Angelle shares the real story behind the leap: the years of frustration working inside nonprofit hierarchies, the pandemic that stranded her daughter in Africa, the first client call that changed everything, and the day she handed back a significant retainer because her dignity was worth more than the paycheck. Six years in, Kindred is thriving — working exclusively with organizations committed to equity and social justice — even as the political climate makes that work harder than ever. This is an honest, grounded conversation about what it actually means to build a business that reflects who you are, not just what you can sell. Key Takeaways Values alignment is a business strategy, not just a tagline. Kindred Communications works exclusively with organizations committed to equity and social justice — and Angelle has returned client money when that alignment broke down. Choosing your clients carefully protects your business, your reputation, and your wellbeing.Your professional network is one of your most powerful startup assets. Decades of relationship-building in Denver's nonprofit sector — especially through her years at the Denver Foundation — directly generated Kindred's earliest and most enduring client partnerships.Intergenerational teams produce better work. Angelle and Daryn's mother-daughter partnership is a living case study: Angelle brings decades of strategic context and community relationships; Daryn brings fresh design sensibility and fluency with what resonates now. Each makes the other's work stronger.The freedom to pursue your beliefs without red tape is a legitimate and powerful reason to start a business. Financial freedom matters, but for Angelle, the deeper motivation was the ability to follow her convictions without navigating organizational hierarchy or having her ideas extracted and reassigned.Taking the leap changes how you feel, not just what you do. Angelle sat on the desire to run her own business for decades. Her advice: "Jump, and the parachute appears." Living on purpose — even through the uncertain and difficult stretches — is worth more than the comfort of a predictable paycheck.About Angelle Fouther Angelle Fouther is the co-founder and principal of Kindred Communications, a Denver-based strategic communications firm that works exclusively with organizations committed to equity and social justice. With more than two decades of experience in marketing, storytelling, and strategic communications — including leadership roles at Denver Botanic Gardens and the Denver Foundation — Angelle brings deep community roots and a sharp eye for authentic narrative to every client engagement. In 2020, she launched Kindred alongside her daughter Daryn, a designer and communications strategist, building a fully remote, intergenerational partnership that has operated seamlessly across continents. Kindred's current work includes communications and impact storytelling for the Colorado Health Foundation's annual symposium and impact investment portfolio, and ongoing partnership with Justice for Black Coloradans. Angelle is also a recent member of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce's Women's Chamber. Frequently Asked Questions How did Angelle Fouther start Kindred Communications? Angelle filed Kindred Communications with the Colorado Secretary of State in December 2019, then nearly abandoned the idea when a nonprofit job opened up. The COVID-19 pandemic — and her daughter Daryn being stranded in Africa with no way home for 16 months — pushed her to commit. When Janine Vanderburg called looking for communications support, Angelle brought Daryn in, and they operated as a cross-continental team from the start. Angelle ran Kindred alongside full-time employment until September 2022, when she made the full leap into entrepreneurship. What does Kindred Communications do? Kindred Communications is a strategic communications firm specializing in storytelling, brand development, messaging strategy, and communications planning for nonprofits, foundations, and mission-driven organizations committed to equity, inclusion, and social justice. Services range from full brand identity and website development to long-term embedded communications partnerships. How do Angelle and her daughter Daryn work together as business partners? Angelle handles strategy, business development, and messaging; Daryn leads design, technology, and visual communications. They share equal pay and operate as true collaborators — not boss and employee. Disagreements are resolved through what they call "collaborative honesty": neither gives empty praise, and both are willing to defer when the other's idea is stronger. Angelle describes it as a practice in real equity, even at a two-person scale. How is Kindred navigating the current rollback of DEI and equity language? Angelle is clear-eyed about the political moment: funders are pulling back, clients are being pressured to sanitize language, and the environment is genuinely difficult. Kindred has worked with some clients on strategic language shifts when survival — and continued service to vulnerable populations — requires it. But Angelle draws a firm line: she will not work with organizations whose core commitment to equity has actually changed, only those that are navigating external pressure while holding to their values internally. What advice does Angelle Fouther give to women thinking about starting a business in midlife? "Take the leap." Angelle spent decades wanting to run her own business and kept returning to the safety of a paycheck. Her experience is that clarity of purpose, aligned clients, and unexpected opportunities tend to appear after you commit — not before. She describes entrepreneurship not as guaranteed financial success, but as the freedom to live and work in alignment with your own convictions: "Every day that we do this, I feel like I'm living in courage." Why does Angelle say experience is an edge for midlife entrepreneurs? The professional relationships Angelle built over two decades — particularly through the Denver Foundation, which sits at the hub of Colorado's nonprofit ecosystem — became direct sources of client work when Kindred launched. She also points to the strategic value of institutional memory: knowing what has been tried before, what the landscape looked like a decade ago, and which relationships have been built on real trust, not just proximity. Resource Stack Kindred Communications — kindredcommunications.netColorado Health Foundation — coloradohealth.orgColorado Health Symposium — coloradohealthsymposium.orgJustice for Black Coloradans / Colorado Black Equity Study — justiceforblackcoloradans.comPlanned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains —

    51 min

  3. Jun 25

    How a Decades-Long Media Career Became a Launchpad for Entrepreneurship — Featuring Ramona Schindelheim

    Episode Summary This episode is for every woman who has spent decades building an impressive career and wonders whether that experience can fuel something entirely her own. Ramona Schindelheim — award-winning journalist, Emmy and Peabody winner, and former editor-in-chief of Working Nation — answers that question with a resounding yes. In this conversation, Ramona and host Janine Vanderburg trace the arc from Ramona's early radio days in Chicago to her work at CNBC, NBC News, and the Wall Street Journal, and ultimately to her decision to build KAMIRA Productions, her independent media consulting company, along with a thriving newsletter and a passion-project podcast. Ramona shares the practical realities of entrepreneurship at midlife — from hiring an accountant on day one, to paying yourself a real paycheck, to choosing clients based on values alignment rather than just revenue. She also opens up about the mentors who shaped her, the role of network and courage in finding new opportunities, and why telling stories about workers and the future of work has become the driving mission of her next chapter.   Key Takeaways Your career skills are your business assets. Ramona's storytelling, producing, and organizational skills — built over decades in major newsrooms — became the direct foundation of her consulting practice. Identifying your core, transferable skills is the essential first step before launching any entrepreneurial venture.Pay yourself a real paycheck from day one. Ramona and her husband-CFO partner learned early that taking a salary from their business isn't optional — it builds Social Security credits, creates financial discipline, and treats the business as a real enterprise, not a hobby.Values alignment is a non-negotiable client filter. After one early experience with a client whose worldview didn't match her own, Ramona made a firm rule: she only works with organizations and people she genuinely believes in. Authentic alignment produces better work and protects your reputation.Don't be afraid to ask — no just means no from one person. Whether it was cold-calling a radio station in Chicago, reaching out to big names for projects, or asking a contact to make an introduction, Ramona's career has been built on a willingness to ask. This is especially critical when launching a business in midlife.Freedom to pursue passion projects is one of the greatest rewards of midlife entrepreneurship. Ramona's Birds and Nerds podcast — which connects surprising topics like AI, DNA privacy, and expat living to the world of birds — is proof that building your own boat also means making room for the work that purely delights you.  About Ramona Schindelheim Ramona Schindelheim is an Emmy, Peabody, and DuPont Award-winning journalist with a career spanning radio, television, and digital media. She began her career in Chicago at WBBM Radio before moving to Los Angeles, where she spent three years as a sitcom writer before returning to news as a television producer. She later served as a producer at WNBC, executive producer at CNBC (where she transformed Power Lunch into a flagship program), business editor at ABC News, and a digital storytelling leader at the Wall Street Journal. Most recently, she spent eight years as editor-in-chief of WorkingNation, a nonprofit media organization dedicated to telling stories about the changing workforce and the future of work. Today, Ramona is the co-founder of KAMIRA Productions, an independent media consulting company, where she helps organizations, nonprofits, and philanthropies tell their stories with clarity and purpose. She is a LinkedIn Top Voice on the future of work, publishes the newsletter The Future of Work(ers), and is the creator and host of Birds & Nerds, a podcast exploring unexpected connections between the world of birds and a wide range of timely topics. Ramona is based in Los Angeles.   Frequently Asked Questions How did Ramona Schindelheim start her own business after a corporate media career? Ramona began building what she calls her "dinghy" — a consulting practice — during gaps between full-time positions throughout her career. Her first consulting client came through a connection with Martha Stewart, whom she knew from her CNBC days. By the time WorkingNation closed, she had a decade of experience running KAMIRA Productions alongside her full-time role. The transition to full-time entrepreneurship was less a leap and more a deliberate expansion of something already in motion. What is KAMIRA Productions and what kind of clients does Ramona work with? KAMIRA Productions is an independent media consulting company co-founded by Ramona Schindelheim and her husband. Ramona focuses on helping companies, nonprofits, and philanthropies — particularly those working in workforce development, the future of work, and career pathways — tell their stories more effectively. She moderates panels, creates video content, and helps organizations identify and communicate their impact. Ramona is selective: she only takes on clients whose mission and values genuinely align with her own people-centered approach to workforce storytelling. What is The Future of Work(ers) newsletter and who is it for? The Future of Work(ers) is Ramona's monthly newsletter, available on LinkedIn, focused on the changing nature of work and the people navigating that change. It includes video interviews, analysis, and storytelling covering topics such as mid-career transitions, older workers, apprenticeships, retraining, rural workforce challenges, and the impact of AI on jobs. It is aimed at anyone who cares about workforce equity, career development, and the human side of economic change. What is the Birds & Nerds podcast? Birds & Nerds is Ramona's passion-project podcast, launched in September 2024. Each episode starts with a timely topic — AI, DNA privacy, expat living, mental health, sustainable business — and finds an unexpected connection to the world of birds. Ramona is not an ornithologist; she is a lifelong bird lover who uses the format to explore serious subjects with curiosity and delight. The podcast has been featured at South by Southwest, where Ramona interviewed the CEO of Audubon. What practical advice does Ramona give to women considering entrepreneurship in midlife? Ramona advises women to start by auditing their skills honestly — not just the work they've done, but the organizational, communication, and relational skills that support everything else. From there, look at your existing network and identify who might make a meaningful introduction. Hire an accountant early, especially one familiar with your industry. Pay yourself a real salary from the start. Choose clients based on values alignment, not just revenue. And above all — don't be afraid to hear no. As Ramona puts it, "No just means no from one person." Resource Stack KAMIRA Productions — Ramona's media consulting company: ramonaschindelheim.comBirds and Nerds Podcast: birdsandnerdspodcast.comWorking Nation — Workforce storytelling nonprofit (archive donated to Jobs for the Future): workingnation.comJobs for the Future (JFF) — Nonprofit driving transformation in education and ...

    45 min

  4. Jun 25

    How Chelle Johnson Went From Corporate Burnout to Building a Fleet: Fractional Talent, Executive Coaching, and Entrepreneurship After 50

    Episode Summary After two decades as a talent acquisition executive at Fortune 500 companies, Chelle Johnson found herself successful on paper — and spiritually depleted in practice. In 2019, she made the leap: she launched Best You Talent Advisors, a fractional talent advisory firm, and never looked back. This episode is a masterclass in what it actually takes to build a sustainable business in midlife — the real financial timeline, the client development grind, the pivots, and the mental fitness work that makes it all possible. Chelle doesn't sugarcoat the first three years — including the year she earned a third of her corporate salary, deferred her mortgage, and still kept going. She walks us through how she built a referral-driven consulting practice, grew Colorado Career Connectors to serve over 6,000 job seekers, and evolved her offerings to focus on what she calls holistic talent operations and executive coaching — grounded in a framework of head, heart, soul, strategy, and wisdom. If you're a woman over 50 wondering whether your experience is enough to build something of your own, Chelle Johnson's answer — backed by a fleet she built herself — is an unequivocal yes. Key Takeaways The first three years are the real test. Chelle made a third of her corporate salary in year one and didn't hit her stride until year three — when confidence, testimonials, and a clearer niche all came together at once. Expecting overnight success is the fastest way to quit too soon.Fractional consulting is a powerful entry point for midlife entrepreneurs. "Fractional" means providing Fortune 500-level expertise to companies on a part-time, contract basis — typically 10–15 hours per week per client. It lets you generate real revenue while maintaining flexibility, and Chelle's clients have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees as a direct result.Business development is the skill most people skip — and the one that matters most. Chelle credits 100% of her early clients to networking, trust, and consistent follow-up. She notes that it now takes approximately 13 touch points to convert a prospect, and she built her pipeline through speaking engagements, LinkedIn, a social media strategy, a newsletter, and warm introductions.Narrowing your focus is not giving up — it's how you grow. Chelle started with a wide range of offerings and deliberately pulled back to two core services: fractional talent operations and executive coaching. Simplifying her message made her easier to refer, easier to hire, and more profitable.Mental fitness is not a soft add-on — it's a business strategy. Chelle integrates Positive Intelligence and neuroscience-based tools into her coaching practice because she's seen firsthand how internalized ageism, self-doubt, and negative inner critics derail talented people. Getting clients mentally fit is part of getting them placed — or launched.About Chelle Johnson Chelle Johnson is the founder and CEO of Best You Talent Advisors, a fractional talent advisory and executive coaching firm based in Denver, Colorado. A first-generation college student who double-majored in Spanish and organizational development, Chelle went on to earn an MBA from one of the country's top international business schools, live and work in Japan and Latin America, and build a 20-year corporate career in talent acquisition at major companies including Sonora Quest Laboratories. In 2019, after reaching the top of her field and feeling her soul being crushed, she left corporate life to build her own. Best You Talent Advisors brings Fortune 50-level HR expertise to growing companies on a fractional basis, and her coaching practice — grounded in a framework she calls Career DNA (head, heart, soul, strategy, and wisdom) — helps executives and professionals at career crossroads find clarity, build mental fitness, and move forward with intention. Chelle also founded Colorado Career Connectors (now Best You Career Connectors), a community that has helped more than 6,000 people navigate career transitions. She has served as a trusted advisor for Vistage, the nation's leading CEO peer advisory organization, and was named an exclusive Forbes recruiter for Colorado. She speaks Spanish and Japanese and once led a group of women on a transformational walk of El Camino de Santiago through Spain and Portugal. Frequently Asked Questions What is fractional talent acquisition and how does it work? Fractional talent acquisition means hiring an experienced HR or recruiting professional to work with your company on a part-time, contracted basis — typically 10 to 15 hours per week — rather than bringing on a full-time employee. Companies get Fortune 500-level expertise at a fraction of the cost. Chelle Johnson's fractional clients have saved over $400,000 in recruitment fees with a single project management firm and more than $50,000 in three months with a women's healthcare company. How long does it realistically take to replace your corporate income when you start your own business? Chelle Johnson's experience is consistent with what many first-time entrepreneurs report: year one brought in about a third of her previous corporate salary; year two she paid off a deferred mortgage and took a tax loan; year three was when she hit her stride. The turning point came from a combination of growing confidence, client testimonials, a clearer niche, and the post-COVID surge in demand for fractional recruiting. She advises that having a financial cushion, a supportive partner, and a business coach can make the difference between making it through the lean years and giving up. How do you find clients as a new consultant or coach? Chelle's entire early client base came from her existing professional network — people who already knew, liked, and trusted her. She supplemented that with a deliberate social media strategy (including hiring a social media manager), consistent speaking at chambers of commerce and women's organizations, a weekly newsletter, and rigorous follow-up. She notes that it now takes approximately 13 touch points to convert a prospect and emphasizes that the willingness to follow up repeatedly — without apology — is one of the most underleveraged skills among women entrepreneurs. Is ageism in the job market real, and what can people over 50 do about it? Yes, ageism is real and well-documented. Chelle, who works primarily with clients aged 45 and older, notes that 25% of workers over 60 may never return to a traditional corporate environment. Her approach focuses on what she calls a "brand MRI" — helping clients audit how they're signaling to the market, identify their "name gravity" (who thinks of them first for a specific problem), and fast-track interviews through warm introductions to hiring leaders in her network. Of five recent clients who just landed new roles, four were over 50 — all with increases in pay. What is Positive Intelligence and how does it help job seekers and entrepreneurs? Positive Intelligence (PQ) is a neuroscience-based mental fitness program developed by Shirzad Chamine. It helps people identify and weaken their internal "saboteurs" — the self-critical, self-limiting mental patterns (like the inner critic or imposter) that undermine performance and wellbeing. Chelle uses it with both job-seeking clients and entrepreneurs to build the mental resilience needed to push through rejection, self-d...

    36 min

  5. Jun 25

    How a 30-Year Executive Assistant Built a Multiple Six-Figure Business by Betting on Herself — Featuring Bonnie Schutz

    Episode Summary For women who have spent decades being indispensable — and invisible — this episode is the roadmap you didn't know you needed. Bonnie Schutz spent nearly 30 years as an elite executive assistant, mastering the art of making everyone else's vision run flawlessly. Then, after one too many layoffs and a workplace incident that became her tipping point, she gave her boss a month's notice and walked out the door — not into retirement, but into entrepreneurship. Today, Bonnie is the founder and CEO of Tandem Resource Solutions, a Colorado-based remote support pro and administrative recruiting firm that has grown into a multiple six-figure business. She's also the host of the podcast Delegate to Elevate and is building a third venture — a curated directory of pre-vetted professional service providers. In this conversation, Bonnie breaks down exactly how she turned 30 years of "non-revenue-generating" administrative expertise into a thriving business, why LinkedIn became her most powerful growth tool, and what she wishes every woman sitting on the sidelines knew about her own potential. Key Takeaways Transferable skills are your most undervalued asset. The organizational, gatekeeping, and relationship-management skills that define elite administrative work translate directly into entrepreneurial success — the same skills that were overlooked in corporate become the foundation of a business.A side hustle is the lowest-risk on-ramp to entrepreneurship. Bonnie launched her recruiting side hustle while still employed, building a client base and cash flow before making the leap full-time. Having even a few clients in place dramatically reduces the financial fear of leaving a steady paycheck.LinkedIn is a legitimate business-building engine — if you use it consistently. Bonnie built her business almost entirely on referrals generated through a well-maintained LinkedIn presence and an intentional strategy of reconnecting with former colleagues and executives.Investing in yourself and your community is non-negotiable. Joining organizations like Second Act Women and the Dames — even when money was tight — gave Bonnie the peer network, accountability, and power partnerships that accelerated her growth.Age and experience are competitive advantages in entrepreneurship. While ageism was a constant in corporate life, Bonnie found that being older as an entrepreneur signals depth of experience — clients hire her because of what her years represent, not in spite of it.About Bonnie Schutz Bonnie Schutz is the founder and CEO of Tandem Resource Solutions, a Colorado-based remote support pro agency and administrative recruiting firm. With nearly 30 years of experience as an executive assistant supporting C-suite leaders across industries including healthcare, software development, and nonprofit, Bonnie brings a rare combination of operational expertise and entrepreneurial drive to everything she builds. She launched her business as a side hustle while still in corporate, grew it to multiple six figures through referrals and strategic networking, and now leads a team of contractors who provide remote administrative support to entrepreneurs and growing businesses. Bonnie is also the host of Delegate to Elevate, a podcast that helps entrepreneurs learn to hand off what they shouldn't be doing so they can focus on what only they can do. She has just launched a curated directory of pre-vetted professional service providers — her third venture and the next vessel in her fleet. Bonnie serves on the advisory council of Second Act Women and is based in Denver, Colorado. Frequently Asked Questions How did Bonnie Schutz start her business with no entrepreneurial background? Bonnie started by recruiting on the side while still employed, mentored by a colleague who taught her the basics of the field. When she discovered the virtual assistant model through a Craigslist job listing, she recognized that she had essentially been doing that work for decades — she just hadn't called it that. She reframed her existing skills, landed her first client, and then found that former EA colleagues were eager to work for her, giving her a ready-made team. What is a remote support pro agency and how is it different from a traditional VA service? Bonnie deliberately moved away from the term "virtual assistant" because she found it undersold the sophistication of the work. A remote support pro agency like Tandem Resource Solutions places experienced administrative professionals — people with real corporate backgrounds — with entrepreneurs and executives who need high-level operational support. The work goes well beyond basic task completion; it includes calendar management, executive-level coordination, recruiting, and business operations support. How did Bonnie overcome imposter syndrome as a new entrepreneur? Bonnie describes her turning point as being invited to speak on a panel by a respected CEO who viewed her as an expert. Getting on that stage — and discovering she loved it — gave her tangible proof that others saw her the way she was learning to see herself. She also credits community: surrounding herself with other women entrepreneurs who were further along in their journeys helped normalize what she was building. What role did networking play in growing Tandem Resource Solutions to multiple six figures? Networking was the single most important growth driver for Bonnie's business. She built her client base almost entirely through referrals, maintained an active LinkedIn presence, and strategically joined organizations like Second Act Women and the Dames, where she could connect with women entrepreneurs at every stage of growth. She also reconnected with former executive colleagues through LinkedIn, asking for advice and using those conversations to re-establish her credibility in a new context. Is entrepreneurship a viable path for women in midlife who are worried about ageism? Bonnie experienced significant ageism in corporate environments, where she was passed over because employers assumed she'd retire in a few years. In entrepreneurship, she found the opposite: clients and collaborators see her years of experience as a credential, not a liability. She is an example of a pattern that appears consistently across the Build Your Own Boat series — that midlife is not a barrier to entrepreneurship, it is a qualification. What is the Delegate to Elevate podcast about? Delegate to Elevate is hosted by Bonnie Schutz and is built around the principle that entrepreneurs don't have to do everything themselves — and that learning to hand off the right things is what creates the freedom and growth they started their businesses to achieve. Episodes feature conversations with entrepreneurs, consultants, coaches, and service providers, and are designed to give listeners both practical strategies and community connection. Resource Stack Tandem Resource Solutions — Bonnie's remote support pro and administrative recruiting agency: tandemresourcesolutions.comDelegate to Elevate Podcast — Available on all major podcast platforms: delegatetoelevate.comSecond Act Women

    43 min

  6. Jun 18

    How One Robin Salls Built a Magazine — and a Movement — for Women Embracing Midlife on Their Own Terms

    Episode Summary Robin Salls didn't wait for the media to notice women in midlife. When she looked around and couldn't find a single magazine that reflected her experience — embracing her silver hair, redefining beauty, and stepping into a new chapter with confidence — she built one herself. In six weeks. During a pandemic. With no publishing experience. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, Robin shares how she launched Tangled Silver Magazine in January 2021 from her home in Johnston, Colorado, after announcing it publicly on social media before she had a single piece of infrastructure in place. What started as a love letter to women embracing their natural silver hair quickly grew into something far larger: a community, a movement, and an annual gathering called the Silverhood Experience — bringing women together from across North America and beyond to celebrate midlife on their own terms. Key Takeaways Start before you're ready. Robin announced Tangled Silver Magazine publicly on December 9, 2020 — before she had a team, a plan, or a publishing infrastructure — giving herself six weeks to make it real. The public commitment forced the action.The experience is your edge. Robin had no magazine publishing background, but she knew what resonated with readers, understood the gap in the market, and trusted her instincts. Prior entrepreneurial experience in radio sales, insurance, and event planning all contributed to her ability to build something new.A hair journey can become a movement. What began as spotlighting women going gray evolved into a full platform challenging outdated narratives about women in midlife — covering entrepreneurship, beauty on your own terms, health, and life reinvention after 45.Mission and money can coexist — but mission comes first. Robin has walked away from advertisers unwilling to align with her values around aging and women's autonomy, choosing integrity over revenue in service of her audience's trust.Community is the product. Tangled Silver's real value isn't just the magazine — it's the relationships formed among readers, the annual Silverhood Experience event, and a growing network of women who are done letting outdated norms define them.About Robin Salls Robin Salls is a serial entrepreneur, publisher, and community builder based in Johnston, Colorado. She launched Tangled Silver Magazine in January 2021 after identifying a striking gap in media: there was virtually no publication celebrating women who were embracing their natural silver hair and stepping boldly into midlife. What began as a quarterly digital magazine grew into a full ecosystem — including print editions, digital subscriptions, a vibrant social media community, and the annual Silverhood Experience, a multi-day immersive gathering for women at the intersection of midlife, beauty, business, and personal reinvention. Robin has been a natural silver herself since 2018, and her personal journey from decades of hair coloring to fully embracing her gray is woven into the DNA of everything she has built. She is a passionate advocate for women defining beauty and aging on their own terms — and a vocal critic of the "anti-aging" messaging that dominates the beauty industry. Through Tangled Silver, she has created a space where women over 45 are not just visible, but celebrated. Frequently Asked Questions What is Tangled Silver Magazine? Tangled Silver Magazine is a digital and print publication founded in 2021 by Robin Salls, focused on women in midlife and beyond who are embracing their natural silver hair and redefining what it means to age beautifully. The magazine features personal stories, hair care guidance, beauty advice tailored to midlife women, and coverage of entrepreneurship and life reinvention. It has grown from a passion project into a community with readers across the United States, Canada, the UK, Italy, and beyond. How did Robin Salls start a magazine with no publishing experience? Robin leveraged years of entrepreneurial experience across multiple industries — including radio sales, insurance, and wine event production — and combined that with a deep knowledge of what resonates with readers as a lifelong magazine enthusiast. She started by publicly committing to a launch date on social media, then worked backward to make it happen. She secured ISSN numbers, registered with the Library of Congress, identified her first cover subject, and built the first issue in six weeks. Her approach: start before you're ready, then figure it out as you go. What is the Silverhood Experience? The Silverhood Experience is an annual multi-day event hosted by Tangled Silver Magazine that brings women together to celebrate midlife in all its dimensions — beauty, health, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Past events have been held in Estes Park, Colorado. The 2025 event takes place September 17–19 at the Magnolia Hotel in Denver, Colorado — one of the few women-owned hotels in the state. The event features speakers, workshops, and a "play day" designed to build sisterhood and send attendees home with actionable insights. How does Tangled Silver Magazine make money? Tangled Silver generates revenue through a combination of digital and print subscriptions, advertising partnerships with mission-aligned brands, and ticket sales from the annual Silverhood Experience event. Robin has consciously chosen to walk away from advertisers whose messaging conflicts with her values — specifically those promoting anti-aging narratives — prioritizing her audience's trust and the magazine's mission over short-term revenue. What advice does Robin Salls have for women in midlife who want to start a business? Robin's core advice: find someone already doing something similar and ask to connect over coffee. Hearing real stories from real entrepreneurs helps dissolve the fear that keeps so many women stuck. She also recommends building a support system that includes people who are not emotionally invested in the outcome — those who can give honest, experience-based guidance. And above all: don't wait for permission. Give it to yourself. Is ageism real in the business world for women over 50? Yes — and Robin speaks to it directly. She has encountered advertisers who overlook midlife women consumers despite their significant spending power, and she observes that the assumption of irrelevance is baked into many industries. Her response: own your wisdom, lead with your skills, and recognize that every year of experience is an asset, not a liability. The way to change the narrative is to show up fully, confidently, and refuse to hide. Resource Stack Tangled Silver Magazine — tangledsilvermagazine.comThe Silverhood Experience 2025 (September 17–19, Magnolia Hotel, Denver, CO) — tangledsilvermagazine.com"Your Roots Are Showing" — film by Elise Harris exploring women's journeys with natural hair and aging: search for screenings and watch parties at yourrootsareshowing.comBuild Your Own Boat Substack — Full written profile of Robin Salls and other women entrepreneurs in midlife:

    43 min

  7. Jun 18

    How Melissa Davey Became an Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker at 65 — and Why She Refuses to Be Invisible

    Episode Summary What happens when a 65-year-old corporate executive decides that her biggest career is still ahead of her — in a field she has never worked in? This episode answers exactly that question. Melissa Davey spent decades leading nonprofit disability advocacy and then building a national disability services program for a Fortune-level company. At 65, she walked away from a successful C-suite career to become a documentary filmmaker — with zero filmmaking experience. Her debut film, Beyond 60, earned six awards, screened at eight film festivals across the US and Canada, and is now streaming on Apple TV and other major platforms. Her second film, Climbing into Life, tells the story of the oldest woman to climb El Capitan in Yosemite — and won 11 festival awards. A third film, commissioned by the Women's Center of Montgomery County on the issue of domestic violence, is now in post-production. Melissa's story is a masterclass in late-career reinvention, trusting your instincts, building the right team, and refusing to let age define what is possible. Key Takeaways Reinvention at 65 is not starting over — it is redirecting. Melissa drew on 40 years of team-building, storytelling, and leadership to succeed in a brand-new field. The skills transferred; only the industry changed.Serendipity favors the prepared. A chance drive past a M. Night Shyamalan film set — and a charity auction that landed her a day on set with him — became the spark that launched her entire second act. But she was already making lists of what she wanted to do next. She was ready.Self-funding gives you creative control. Melissa funded both of her first two films herself, using savings she had deliberately set aside. It meant total creative control and the freedom to move fast — without waiting years for grants or investors.Your network knows more than you think. Every key connection in Melissa's filmmaking journey — her production company, her crew, her subjects — came through people she already knew or people one degree away. She didn't need a Hollywood contact list. She needed to ask.The antidote to ageism is visibility. Melissa's films exist specifically to counter the idea that women become invisible after 60. Both Beyond 60 and Climbing into Life are, at their core, anti-ageism films — proof that women in their 60s, 70s, and beyond are doing extraordinary things the world simply isn't paying attention to.About Melissa Davey Melissa Davey is an award-winning independent documentary filmmaker based in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She spent more than four decades in the nonprofit and corporate sectors, most recently as a C-suite executive building a national disability services program before retiring at 65 — and promptly launching an entirely new career. Her debut documentary, Beyond 60, profiles nine women between the ages of 60 and 90 who are living boldly and refusing to disappear. It earned six awards and screened at eight film festivals before landing on Apple TV and other streaming platforms. Her second film, Climbing into Life, follows Dierdre Wolownick — the oldest woman to summit El Capitan in Yosemite, and mother of legendary climber Alex Honnold — as she discovers athleticism for the first time in her 60s. That film earned 11 festival awards. Melissa is currently completing a third film, commissioned by the Women's Center of Montgomery County, on the organization's 50-year history of domestic violence prevention and community partnership. She is living proof that the most meaningful chapter of a career can begin at 65. Frequently Asked Questions Can you really become a documentary filmmaker with no experience? Yes — and Melissa Davey is the proof. She had never made a film before she decided at 65 that she wanted to. Her approach was practical: she identified what she didn't know, reached out through her existing network, and found a production company willing to partner with her. She brought the vision, the subject matter expertise, and the leadership. They brought the cameras and the technical crew. Within three years, her first film was screening at festivals across North America. How do you fund an independent documentary film? For her first two films, Melissa self-funded using savings she had built over her corporate career. She made a deliberate decision not to wait for grants or outside investors — both because she wanted creative control and because she had a sense of urgency about moving quickly. She notes that funding for women-led entrepreneurial ventures is historically limited, and funding for older women entrepreneurs even more so. For her third film, she was commissioned and the commissioning organization covered all crew costs. What streaming platforms is Beyond 60 available on? Beyond 60 is currently streaming on Apple TV and several other major streaming platforms. Distribution was handled through a distributor who placed the film on six to seven platforms for a 13-year licensing period. How did Melissa Davey find the women in her films? For Beyond 60, Melissa spoke with more than 80 women over the course of a year — cold calling, reaching out through friends, and asking her network who they knew with a remarkable story between the ages of 60 and 90. She narrowed the field to nine subjects, choosing women whose stories she personally connected with and who reflected the diversity and visibility she wanted to put on screen. Every single woman she asked said yes without hesitation. What advice does Melissa Davey have for women considering a midlife career change? Start talking. Melissa's most direct advice is to reach out to your existing circle — friends, former colleagues, acquaintances — and have honest conversations about what you're considering. You will be surprised who is thinking the same thing, or who knows someone who has done it. Surround yourself with people who support your vision. When you hit a naysayer (and you will), move on. Don't let one discouraging voice end the conversation. What is Climbing into Life about? Climbing into Life is a feature documentary about Dierdre Wolownick, who became the oldest woman to climb El Capitan in Yosemite at age 66. She was not an athlete for most of her life — she was a college professor, author, musician, and artist. She is also the mother of Alex Honnold, star of the Oscar-winning film Free Solo. The documentary traces her transformation and serves as a companion story to Melissa's own reinvention — both women were learning entirely new skills at roughly the same time in their lives. Resource Stack Melissa Davey's official website: melissaDavey.comBeyond 60 on Apple TV: Available on Apple TV and other major streaming platforms — search "Beyond 60 documentary"Women's Center of Montgomery County (Pennsylvania): Domestic violence prevention, court advocacy, hospital partnerships, and school programs — www.WomensCenterMC.orgFree Solo (2018 Oscar-winning documentary): Features Alex Honnold, son of Climbing into Life subject Dierdre Wolownick — available on Disney+, Apple TV, and other platformsCharity Buzz: The platform where Melissa won her ...

    42 min

  8. Jun 18

    The Dream She Carried for 50 Years: Stella Fosse on Writing, Self-Publishing, and Claiming Your Creative Life After 60

    Episode Summary What happens when a woman who spent 30 years writing 32-volume FDA regulatory submissions finally sits down to write the books she's dreamed of since she was seven? She builds her own publishing company, launches a collective to help other women authors over 50 find their readers, and writes unapologetically vibrant older women into the center of every story. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, host Janine Vanderburg talks with Stella Fosse — biotech regulatory writer turned independent author and publisher — about reclaiming a lifelong creative dream in her 60s, founding Baubo Books, and co-founding Crone Authors Together. Stella unpacks what it really takes to self-publish successfully, how to silence (or at least negotiate with) your inner critic, and why the mainstream publishing industry is missing a massive market hiding in plain sight: women over 50 who read voraciously and whose stories deserve to be told. Key Takeaways Your prior career is your edge, not your obstacle. Thirty years of technical writing gave Stella discipline and endurance — the key was unlearning the rigidity and rediscovering play. That transition from "writing you have to do" to "writing you want to do" requires deliberate, playful practice.Independent publishing gives authors 85% of revenue vs. approximately 15% in traditional royalties — and with tools like print-on-demand and modern distribution channels, it is more accessible and financially rewarding than ever before.The mainstream publishing industry has overlooked women 50+ as both readers and protagonists — even though older women are among the largest buyers of romance novels and hold significant purchasing power in the longevity economy.Collective action fills the gaps that algorithms and ageist markets leave behind. Crone Authors Together, hosted by the Grandmother Collective, is building a peer-driven playbook for reaching readers that traditional publishing has ignored.You are right on time. Whether you have always known what you wanted to create or are just beginning to explore, the post-midlife chapter is not too late — it may be exactly when you were always meant to begin.About Stella Fosse Stella Fosse spent three decades as a biotech regulatory writer, crafting FDA submissions for international health authorities — including one that ran to 32 volumes. She always knew she wanted to write books. She just had to wait until life made room. In her 60s, Stella launched Baubo Books, her own independent publishing imprint, and has since published six books — including Aphrodite's Pen: The Power of Writing Erotica After Midlife (North Atlantic Books) and the essay collection Rock On: Power, Sex and Money After 60. She writes fiction and nonfiction that places older women at the center as powerful, funny, sexual, and fully alive human beings — a direct challenge to the publishing industry's long-standing erasure of women over 50. Stella also co-founded Crone Authors Together, a collective hosted by the Grandmother Collective, where women authors over 50 pool knowledge, support each other's work, and build new strategies for reaching the readers the mainstream market has missed. Her forthcoming books include Vivienne, The Swordswoman (the next installment in her benign vampires-of-a-certain-age series, out at Halloween) and Your First Book at Any Age (releasing end of year), a comprehensive guide to writing, publishing, and marketing your first book at any stage of life. Frequently Asked Questions Is it too late to start writing and publishing books after 60? Absolutely not — and Stella Fosse is living proof. She published her first book under her own imprint in her 60s, after a full career in biotech and decades of raising four children. She argues that older writers bring a richness of life experience, hard-won discipline, and creative freedom that younger writers are still working toward. As she says directly: "You're right on time." Why should women over 50 consider independent (indie) publishing over traditional publishing? Traditional publishing typically pays authors around 15% in royalties and provides marketing attention for only a limited window after launch. Independent publishing allows authors to keep approximately 85% of their revenues, maintain full editorial control, and market their work on their own timeline. With today's print-on-demand technology and modern distribution channels, self-publishing is more accessible and financially rewarding than at any previous point in history. What is Crone Authors Together and how can I join? Crone Authors Together is a collective of women authors over 50, co-founded by Stella Fosse and hosted by the Grandmother Collective. It brings together women writers to share marketing strategies, support each other's launches, cross-promote through guest blogs and podcast appearances, and build community around the shared challenge of reaching an underserved readership. You can find information and a sign-up link at www.StellaFosse.com or through the Grandmother Collective website. How do you overcome the inner critic when starting a creative project later in life? Stella recommends negotiating with your inner critic rather than trying to silence her entirely. Give her a specific, useful job — like proofreading — and ask her to hold off during the generative, playful stages of first-draft writing. She also points to Writing Open the Mind by Andy Couturier as a practical resource for exercises that reconnect writers with a sense of creative play, which she identifies as the essential skill to reclaim when transitioning from technical or corporate writing to personal creative work. How do you find your creative rhythm as an older writer? There is no single right answer, and Stella's experience underscores that. She is a binge writer who works best blocking out full days at a time to stay immersed in a manuscript — a rhythm she discovered only after leaving corporate life. Other writers thrive with daily morning pages or short sprints. The key, she says, is the freedom that comes with age: you finally get to define what rhythm actually works for you, not the one corporate life or caregiving imposed. What kinds of books does Baubo Books publish? Baubo Books is Stella Fosse's independent imprint, publishing fiction and nonfiction that centers older women as vibrant, complex, and fully realized protagonists. Titles include romance, vampire fiction with older heroines, erotica for women in midlife and beyond, and essay collections on topics including health, sexuality, legacy, and body image. The imprint is named after Baubo, a figure from Greek mythology — an older woman whose irreverent humor broke Demeter's grief and brought spring back to the world. Resource Stack Stella Fosse's website: www.StellaFosse.comCrone Authors Together (via Grandmother Collective): www.StellaFosse.com (link on homepage)Baubo Books (Stella's independent publishing imprint): www.StellaFosse.comAphrodite's Pen: ...

    37 min
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About

An entrepreneurship podcast for women in midlife and beyond. What if the most powerful thing you could do right now — for your finances, your freedom, and your future — was to stop waiting for someone else to hand you an opportunity and start building your own? Build Your Own Boat is the podcast for women in midlife and beyond who are done playing by rules that were never written with them in mind. Hosted by award-winning 3x entrepreneur Janine Vanderburg, each episode features real conversations with women in midlife and beyond who made the bold decision to bet on themselves — launching businesses and creative ventures, building wealth, and rewriting what entrepreneurship looks like in the second half of life. This isn't a podcast about hustle culture or overnight success stories. It's a roadmap — built from lived experience, hard-won wisdom, and the kind of honest conversation you rarely hear anywhere else. Guests include founders, consultants, creatives, coaches, media makers, and civic leaders who are proving every week that midlife isn't a ceiling. It's a launchpad. Whether you're just beginning to wonder if entrepreneurship is for you, actively building your business, or simply looking for proof that it's not too late — you'll find it here. Every episode, you'll discover: 1. How real women in midlife launched and grew successful ventures — and what they wish they'd known sooner 2. Practical strategies for building financial independence and freedom on your own terms 3. Honest conversations about the challenges of midlife entrepreneurship, and how to navigate them 4. Inspiration that's grounded in reality, not motivational posters The Encore Economy is booming — and women in midlife are driving it. Build Your Own Boat is where their stories live. Subscribe now and join a growing community of women who are building something that's entirely, unapologetically theirs. And do SUBSCRIBE to Build Your Own Boat on Substack as well, to read the full stories of our guests, and their best tips and resources. https://buildyourownboat.substack.com/

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  • Creator
    Janine Vanderburg
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Janine Vanderburg

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