Business Savages

Olya Grovel
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Business Savages

Olya Grovel, startup scaling expert, top rated coach & mentor, and aspiring author, hosts Business Savages, where relatable, everyday entrepreneurs share their raw, down-to-earth journeys of growth, resilience, and success. Unlike typical shows, Business Savages spotlights stories from outside the usual "hall of fame." Each episode delivers actionable strategies for escaping the grind—whether it's a 9-5 or your own hustle—so you can optimize your talents without burning out. Plus, a unique “homework” segment helps you apply these insights to your own journey.

  1. #18 The Hard Truths of Building a Hospitality Empire: Lessons on Failure, Family, and Finding Purpose with Alberto Zandi

    23 HR. AGO

    #18 The Hard Truths of Building a Hospitality Empire: Lessons on Failure, Family, and Finding Purpose with Alberto Zandi

    In this episode of Business Savages, Olya sits down with Alberto Zandi, co-founder of Emerald Hospitality Group, to discuss his journey from a young strategy consultant to establishing a thriving hospitality business with his twin brother. Alberto opens up about the unexpected hurdles of the restaurant industry, the importance of adaptability, and the unique dynamics of co-founding a business with family. He also shares key insights into finding purpose, embracing failures as learning experiences, and building resilience in a high-stakes environment. This conversation uncovers the gritty realities of scaling a hospitality group while staying true to personal happiness and purpose. Learning Takeaways: Family as Business Partners: Working with a family member, especially a twin, can streamline decision-making but requires clear role separation to avoid conflicts that may affect both business and personal relationships. Balancing Stubbornness and Open-mindedness: Alberto shares the importance of striking a balance between perseverance and flexibility to respond to market feedback, which he views as crucial for any entrepreneur. Failing Forward: Early failures, from missteps in business model alignment to underperforming locations, taught him invaluable lessons about customer psychology and market adaptability. Embracing these failures paved the way for long-term success. Building Confidence for Resilience: Alberto emphasizes that self-confidence is key, especially in challenging industries, and that physical exercise is a practical method to cultivate this mindset. Focus on Core Strengths: Success doesn’t come from doing everything. Zandi advises prioritizing tasks that truly drive growth rather than simply staying busy—a lesson he believes every founder should internalize. Homework: Start Small with Exercise for Confidence: Dedicate a few days a week to consistent physical exercise to build confidence, which can translate into business resilience. List Your Interests and Potential Market Gaps: Spend 30 minutes jotting down personal interests, then brainstorm how these could fill a market gap. Choose one idea to explore further. Empower Someone on Your Team: If you manage others, identify a person who may benefit from more responsibility. Grant them creative freedom on a small project and offer supportive guidance. Practice Focused Efforts: Choose one task or project to pursue deeply this week rather than multitasking. Track its progress and assess how focusing impacts quality and results. Assess Purpose in Your Projects: Evaluate whether current projects or goals are genuinely fulfilling. If they aren’t, consider ways to pivot towards work that aligns better with your sense of purpose. Closing Reflection Question:Reflect on this: Are you mistaking movement for progress? Remember to focus on quality and meaningful results over mere activity to avoid burnout and achieve true growth. Follow Alberto's here: https://www.instagram.com/30tofficial/ Follow Us: https://olyagrovel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/olyagrovelofficial/ https://www.youtube.com/@BusinessSavages

    51 min
  2. #17 Breaking Barriers: Redefining Success and Confidence in Male-Dominated Industries with Neyla Merheb

    NOV 1

    #17 Breaking Barriers: Redefining Success and Confidence in Male-Dominated Industries with Neyla Merheb

    In this episode of Business Savages, Olya Grovel hosts Neyla Merheb, a venture capitalist with global experience across New York, Dubai, and Paris, to discuss navigating the male-dominated finance and investment industries. Neyla shares her journey from trading floors to venture capital, emphasizing the importance of confidence, boundary-setting, and resilience. She dives into the unique dynamics women face in the workplace, the need for empathy in leadership, and the thin line between confidence and ego in founders. This insightful conversation offers an honest look at the challenges and advantages of being a woman in high-stakes finance, with practical advice for all entrepreneurs. Learning Takeaways: Confidence vs. Ego in Leadership: Neyla explains the importance of discerning between confidence and ego, especially in founders, as a predictor of sustainable business growth and team cohesion. Boundary-Setting in Professional Relationships: Neyla highlights how setting personal and professional boundaries, such as limiting personal contact through work platforms, can protect one’s peace and maintain professionalism. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Learn how women in leadership can leverage empathy to create healthier workplaces and foster constructive feedback dynamics. Self-Evaluation in Gender Dynamics: Neyla challenges listeners to examine whether the challenges they experience are truly external or if internalized narratives may be holding them back, urging listeners to adopt an empowered mindset. Workplace Competition and Empowerment: Neyla and Olya discuss intra-gender competition, highlighting the need to shift from a competitive to a collaborative mindset in women-dominated spaces. Homework: Confidence Check: Assess your recent professional interactions. Are you displaying confidence or leaning into ego? Make a note of any recurring themes and identify areas where you can foster genuine self-confidence. Set a New Boundary: Identify one boundary you could set in your work life, whether it’s time, communication, or interaction-related. Implement this boundary to protect your mental well-being and maintain professionalism. Reflect on Empowerment: Write down how you see yourself in male-dominated settings or any other challenging environment. Are there areas where you feel victimized, and if so, is it an internalized belief or an actual external barrier? Aim to adopt an empowered, resilient mindset. Celebrate Diversity in the Workplace: Observe the different strengths in your team or professional environment this week. Write down three unique qualities your colleagues bring to the table and see how these can complement your strengths to create a collaborative work atmosphere.

    51 min
  3. #16 The Real Truth About Startup Success: What No One Tells You About Failing First with Tom Cullen

    OCT 24

    #16 The Real Truth About Startup Success: What No One Tells You About Failing First with Tom Cullen

    In this episode of Business Savages, I interview Tom Cullen, founder of Zoplo, a Gen Z opinion-sharing app. Tom candidly shares his path from a career in investment banking to launching a startup, highlighting the crucial lessons from failure that no one talks about. He opens up about the personal challenges of being an entrepreneur, the fear of quitting his stable job, and how embracing failure helped him find success. Tom also dives into his growth strategies, including leveraging humor in branding and organic growth through TikTok, as well as how personal relationships shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. This episode sheds light on what it really takes to build a successful business, emphasizing the importance of learning from failures. Learning Takeaways: 1. Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone: Tom emphasizes that failure isn’t the end, but a critical part of the journey to success. Learn why failing first can often be the best lesson. 2. Finding Success Through Authenticity: Discover how Tom uses humor and authentic communication in his marketing to build a connection with his Gen Z audience. 3. The Fear Factor: Learn how to overcome the fear of leaving security behind and taking risks for your startup dreams. 4. Building Without Burnout: Tom shares how focusing on personal relationships and balance is key to long-term success and fulfillment in the startup world. 5. Organic Growth on a Budget: Get insights into how Tom grew his app to 76,000 downloads without a marketing budget Homework: 1. Take Action on an Intimidating Goal:    Identify a big goal that feels overwhelming. Break it down into small, achievable steps, and commit to taking action on the first step this week. 2. Post a Piece of Content:    Whether it's on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok, post something you've been hesitant to share. Don't worry about perfection—focus on getting it out there. 3. Call Your Parents:    Take time today to call your parents or someone close to you and thank them for their support. Let them know how much you appreciate their presence in your life. 4. Help a Fellow Entrepreneur:    Find a small business or startup you admire and support them in a tangible way. Whether it’s by purchasing a product, sharing their work on social media, or offering advice, your support can make a big difference. 5. Reflect on Fear of Failure:    Take a few minutes to write down one of your biggest fears when it comes to pursuing your goals. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Then list reasons why that fear might not be as scary as it seems.

    1 hr
  4. #15 Resilience and Discipline in Business: From Athlete to Entrepreneur with Gabija Adele

    OCT 17

    #15 Resilience and Discipline in Business: From Athlete to Entrepreneur with Gabija Adele

    In this episode of Business Savages, Olya Grovel sits down with Gabija Adele, a former professional swimmer turned entrepreneur, to discuss her journey from the pool to founding a tech-based sales agency, Capital Boost. Gabija shares how her experience as an athlete taught her resilience, discipline, and stress management, all of which she applies in her entrepreneurial ventures. The conversation touches on the importance of setting goals, using visualization techniques, and staying consistent to succeed in business. Gabija also opens up about the challenges of negotiating as a young female entrepreneur and the pressures of building a business in a competitive market. Learning Takeaways: 1. Resilience and Discipline in Business:    Gabija explains how the lessons from her athletic career—discipline, resilience, and stress management—are key to thriving as an entrepreneur. 2. Visualization and Goal Setting:    Visualization isn’t just for athletes. Gabija discusses how imagining future business success, down to the smallest details, can help you reach your goals. 3. Overcoming Entrepreneurial Loneliness:    Gabija shares candid insights into the isolation that comes with entrepreneurship and how joining communities or co-working spaces can help. 4. Strategic Negotiation as a Female Entrepreneur:    Gabija talks about the difficulties of negotiating with clients, especially as a young woman, and how she is working to develop stronger negotiation skills. 5. Building on Strengths:    Identifying your core strengths in business and life is crucial to success. Gabija advises focusing on these strengths to build a solid foundation for growth. Homework: 1. Practice Visualization:    Spend five minutes each day visualizing your business or career success. Imagine where you want to be a year from now and visualize the steps you’ll need to take to get there. 2. Stay Consistent:    Pick one small task related to your business or personal development and commit to doing it daily for the next week. Track your progress and reflect on the results. 3. Identify Your Strengths:    Make a list of your top three strengths in both your business and personal life. Reflect on how you can build on these strengths to reach your goals. 4. Learn Negotiation Skills:    Research and read one resource (book, article, or podcast) on negotiation strategies. Practice using one of these strategies in your next business interaction. 5. Join a Community:    Whether it’s a co-working space or an online group, find a community of like-minded individuals to help combat the isolation of entrepreneurship and gain support.

    45 min
  5. #14 Building Your Free(lance) Future: From Side Gig to Full-Time Entrepreneur with Sara Uzer

    OCT 9

    #14 Building Your Free(lance) Future: From Side Gig to Full-Time Entrepreneur with Sara Uzer

    In this episode of Business Savages, Olya Grovel chats with Sara Uzer, a freelance writer and editor, about her journey from a corporate career to full-time freelance entrepreneurship. Sara shares how she balanced a demanding full-time job while developing a side hustle that allowed her to eventually break free. They discuss the importance of long-term vision, setting boundaries with clients, and managing anxiety as an entrepreneur. Sara provides candid insights into her struggles with confidence, handling slow periods, and maintaining a sense of control in the often unpredictable freelance world. Learning Takeaways: Building a Freelance Career Alongside a Full-Time Job: Sara explains how starting small, like finding work through online communities, can pave the way for long-term success without risking immediate financial stability. Setting Boundaries with Clients: Learn how Sara transitioned from a corporate mindset to setting clear expectations with her freelance clients, avoiding burnout, and maintaining control over her workload. Dealing with Anxiety as an Entrepreneur: Sara shares strategies for managing anxiety, including stepping away from work, leaning on supportive relationships, and practicing mindfulness. Embracing Discomfort and Uncertainty: Sara emphasizes the importance of getting comfortable with the inevitable uncertainty and discomfort that come with freelancing and entrepreneurship. The Importance of Long-Term Vision: Understand the value of having a clear vision for where you want your freelance career to go and how to stay aligned with your goals despite short-term setbacks. Homework: Define Your Long-Term Vision: Write down what you see for your freelance or entrepreneurial career in the next five years. Where do you want to be, and what steps can you take to get there? Set Clear Boundaries: Reflect on your current boundaries with clients. Identify one area where you can set clearer expectations (e.g., turnaround times, communication hours) and put it into practice with your next client. Practice Self-Kindness: Write down three accomplishments from the past week, no matter how small, to remind yourself that you are making progress. Be kind to yourself as you grow. Recognize What You Love Doing: List out the tasks or types of projects that bring you the most joy in your work. Evaluate whether you're doing enough of these tasks and brainstorm ways to shift your focus more toward them. Step Away to Recharge: Commit to stepping away from your computer at least once a day this week for 15-30 minutes. Use that time to walk, meditate, or engage in a non-work-related activity to reset your mind.

    49 min
  6. #13 The Secrets to Resilience: How to Overcome Burnout and Find Balance with Mouna Laaragat

    SEP 26

    #13 The Secrets to Resilience: How to Overcome Burnout and Find Balance with Mouna Laaragat

    In this episode of Business Savages, Olya Grovel sits down with Mouna Laaragat, founder of The Grit Makers and a trauma-informed mindset coach, to discuss her transformation from burnout and self-sabotage to a leader in resilience. Mouna candidly shares her journey, including how she overcame destructive habits tied to trauma and how these challenges shaped her personal and professional success. She reveals the strategies she uses to help individuals and leaders build sustainable resilience, transform their mindset, and find balance in high-pressure environments. Join Olya and Mouna as they discuss key topics like breaking free from unhealthy patterns, embracing vulnerability, and turning adversity into strength. Learning Takeaways: 1. Transforming Burnout into Growth: Mouna emphasizes that burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s an opportunity to reevaluate what isn't working and create lasting change. 2. Harnessing Vulnerability for Growth: Discover how embracing vulnerability, rather than seeing it as a weakness, can foster personal growth and stronger connections in business and life. 3. Overcoming Perfectionism: Letting go of the need to be perfect allows for progress. Mouna shares how embracing imperfection has been key in her entrepreneurial journey. 4. Embracing Change and Self-Awareness: Understand the power of self-awareness in identifying patterns that hold you back and how small, consistent changes lead to long-term transformation. 5. The Importance of Emotional Resilience: Learn how building emotional resilience, through mindset shifts and healthy habits, can provide the foundation for success in all areas of life. Homework: 1. Evaluate Your Routines: Identify one habit that drains your energy or well-being and replace it with a positive one that supports your mental or physical health. 2. Embrace Vulnerability: Reflect on an area of your life where you’ve been avoiding vulnerability. Take one small step this week to open up, either personally or professionally. 3. Start Before You’re Ready: Challenge yourself to take action on a project or goal without waiting for perfection. Focus on progress over perfection. 4. Reclaim Your Joy: List five activities you loved as a child. Make time to reintroduce one of these activities into your life to reconnect with your joy. 5. Build Emotional Resilience: Each day this week, take five minutes to reflect on a challenge you faced. Acknowledge your emotions and consider what this experience has taught you. Episode Highlights: 1. Breaking Free from Burnout (05:27 - 07:45): Mouna shares her wake-up call moment when she realized that her habits were self-destructive and that change was necessary for long-term health and success. 2. Why We Wait for Crisis to Make Changes (06:12 - 07:45): Mouna explains why most people only take action when they hit rock bottom and how discomfort becomes a catalyst for transformation. 3. Overcoming Perfectionism in Business (26:30 - 28:12): Mouna reveals how letting go of the need to get everything right has allowed her to take bold actions and grow her business more effectively. 4. The Power of Inner Child Work (21:17 - 24:16): Learn how Mouna used inner child work to break free from recurring patterns in relationships and career, and how it helped her develop empathy and emotional intelligence. 5. Mastering the Art of Small, Consistent Actions (37:42 - 39:34): Mouna talks about the importance of small, daily habits in creating big, lasting changes and how consistency builds resilience over time. This episode is a powerful exploration of how personal transformation can lead to professional success, offering listeners actionable insights on breaking free from burnout, embracing vulnerability, and achieving resilience.

    1h 12m
  7. #12 From Fired to Founder: Entrepreneur’s Comeback Story & The Power of Resilience | Andrew Ricci

    SEP 10

    #12 From Fired to Founder: Entrepreneur’s Comeback Story & The Power of Resilience | Andrew Ricci

    In this episode of Business Savages, host Olya Grovel sits down with entrepreneur Andrew Ricci to explore how he turned the low point of being let go from his job into a thriving business. Andrew shares his journey of launching his company just days after his dismissal and discusses the personal growth that came from facing failure head-on. From learning to separate his personal and professional identity to embracing uncomfortable situations, Andrew reveals the secrets behind his seven years of entrepreneurial success. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or someone navigating career transitions, this episode is packed with insights on resilience, mental health, and business innovation. Learning Takeaways: The Power of Resilience: Andrew’s journey highlights the importance of bouncing back quickly after setbacks. Starting his business just days after losing his job shows how resilience and determination can lead to success. Decouple Personal and Professional Identity: Andrew stresses the need to separate your worth from your career achievements. He explains how this mental shift helped him thrive as an entrepreneur. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Success requires stepping into discomfort. Andrew shares how embracing failure and discomfort led to personal growth and business breakthroughs. Small Changes Lead to Big Results: Andrew’s approach to making small, consistent adjustments in his routine, like minimizing distractions and scheduling focus time, is key to long-term success. Prioritize Relationships Over Ego: Andrew emphasizes the importance of reliability and collaboration over ego, which has helped him retain clients and grow his business. Homework: Embrace Failure: Identify an area in your life where you're avoiding failure. Challenge yourself to actively engage with it this week, whether it's in your career, personal life, or a passion project. Decouple Your Identity: Reflect on how much of your self-worth is tied to your job. Write down one thing outside of work that defines you, and spend time nurturing that part of your life. Implement a Small Habit: Start by changing one small thing in your routine to boost productivity. It could be as simple as putting your phone away for 30 minutes during lunch to read or focus on creative work. Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable: This week, take a small step outside your comfort zone. Whether it’s making a bold career move or trying something new, challenge yourself to embrace the discomfort and learn from it. Episode Highlights: Starting a PR Firm After a Layoff (02:00 - 04:37): Andrew discusses how he quickly transitioned from being laid off to launching his own PR business and the steps he took to secure his first clients. Navigating Mental Health in a Toxic Work Environment (11:14 - 12:28): The conversation shifts to how Andrew dealt with the mental strain of working in a toxic environment and the relief he felt upon leaving. Overcoming the Fear of Business Development (07:46 - 09:57): Andrew shares his initial discomfort with client development and how he gradually built confidence in this area. Managing Work-Life Balance with a Family (22:19 - 29:23): Learn how Andrew balances running a business with family life, including his unique work schedule that maximizes productivity while being present for his children. The Importance of Consistency in Building New Habits (36:42 - 37:42): Andrew and Olya discuss the power of consistency in forming new habits and how small changes can lead to significant results over time.

    1h 6m
  8. #11 Navigating Toxic Work Environments, Reinventing Careers, and Stand-Up Comedy Insights with Bassam Shawl

    AUG 28

    #11 Navigating Toxic Work Environments, Reinventing Careers, and Stand-Up Comedy Insights with Bassam Shawl

    In this episode of "Business Savages," Olya Grovel catches up with Bassam Shawl, a comedian and former communications professional, to discuss the highs and lows of working in Washington, D.C.'s cutthroat public affairs scene. They explore how toxic work environments can affect your confidence, the importance of perseverance in pursuing your passion, and the surprising lessons learned from stand-up comedy. Bassam shares his journey from feeling like an outsider in a corporate shark tank to finding his true calling on stage, providing valuable insights on resilience, authenticity, and the power of knowing your audience. Learning Takeaways Recognize Toxic Work Environments: Learn how to identify a toxic work culture and understand its impact on your mental health and career growth. Importance of Self-Awareness and Authenticity: Discover how being true to oneself and finding the unique aspects that only you can bring to your work or performance can set you apart. Resilience in the Face of Rejection: Understand the importance of perseverance, especially in creative fields like comedy, where rejection is part of the process. Leveraging Unconventional Opportunities: Gain insight into how unconventional paths and opportunities can lead to significant breakthroughs in one’s career. Networking with Intention: Learn the value of building a network that supports your growth, both professionally and personally, and how surrounding yourself with the right people can propel you forward. Homework Audit Your Environment: Take time to reflect on your current work or social environment. Identify any toxic elements and plan actionable steps to create a healthier atmosphere, whether through setting boundaries or seeking new opportunities. Personal SWOT Analysis: Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis on yourself. Focus particularly on what makes you unique in your field or what unique perspectives you can offer. Take the Stage: If you’re interested in public speaking or performance, challenge yourself to an open mic night or a similar speaking engagement. Use this experience to learn more about how you present yourself and receive feedback. Build Your Resilience Routine: Identify one small action you can take daily that helps build resilience. This could be a writing exercise, a stand-up practice, or even a daily reflection. Reach Out with Kindness: Inspired by Tony Robbins' practice mentioned in the episode, reach out to someone in your network with a mindful message, acknowledging their strengths or achievements. This will help build a more supportive community around you.

    1h 3m
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About

Olya Grovel, startup scaling expert, top rated coach & mentor, and aspiring author, hosts Business Savages, where relatable, everyday entrepreneurs share their raw, down-to-earth journeys of growth, resilience, and success. Unlike typical shows, Business Savages spotlights stories from outside the usual "hall of fame." Each episode delivers actionable strategies for escaping the grind—whether it's a 9-5 or your own hustle—so you can optimize your talents without burning out. Plus, a unique “homework” segment helps you apply these insights to your own journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Olya Grovel
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Olya Grovel
  • Show Website
    Business Savages

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