109 episodes

At Her Story of Success, we know that no two paths are alike. Join us as we interview influential women trailblazers, entrepreneurs, artists and business leaders who share their stories of defining and pursuing success in hopes of inspiring you along your own journey.

Her Story of Success Leah Glover Hayes

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 94 Ratings

At Her Story of Success, we know that no two paths are alike. Join us as we interview influential women trailblazers, entrepreneurs, artists and business leaders who share their stories of defining and pursuing success in hopes of inspiring you along your own journey.

    Taking the Next Best Step with Shannon Litton

    Taking the Next Best Step with Shannon Litton

    Shannon Litton thought she’d spend her whole career working as an English teacher, but when she fell in love with marketing and kept moving forward with the opportunities presented to her, she eventually decided to start her own agency. Today, Shannon is president and CEO of 5by5, a marketing and digital agency which serves change makers and delivers messages with undeniable clarity, reach and results. 5by5 was named to the Inc 5000 list for 2018, 2019 and 2020, and it was named a Nashville Business Journal Best Place to Work in 2017 and 2018. 
    Shannon has worked on technology, social media, branding and communications for hundreds of organizations including the Christian Leadership Alliance, Amazima, LifeWay, the United Methodist Church and more. She’s also a speaker on leadership, marketing, branding and business strategy.
    In This Episode: Shannon describes the unexpected career journey that led her to create 5by5. She also shares practical examples of what it looks like to put people first, give back as a business leader, and manage your schedule as a busy working mom.
    Episode Highlights:
    Taking the next best step (2:47) Managing your schedule as a working mom (11:28) Drawing inspiration from other women (22:22) The importance of off-boarding employees (27:04) Giving back as a business owner (32:26) Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our  go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

    • 46 min
    Believing In Yourself with Bailey Spaulding

    Believing In Yourself with Bailey Spaulding

    Bailey Spaulding first fell in love with homebrewing while attending Vanderbilt Law School, and she decided to start working toward opening her own brewery after graduation. Along with co-founder Robyn Virball, who Bailey met while studying abroad in Scotland, she started Jackalope Brewing Company in 2011. Since then, the company has grown tremendously, opening a second taproom and brewery in Nashville, becoming the first Nashville craft brewery to can its own beer, and distributing to New York, Vermont and Arkansas. Jackalope is also committed to sustainability, with innovative practices like the CO2 recapture system they use to make their beer while minimizing waste. 
    In This Episode: Bailey shares her story of deciding to pursue her passion and building a successful, woman-owned brewing company. She also opens up about the behind-the-scenes realities of running a business, from finding the right partner to becoming a working mom to pivoting during COVID-19.
    Episode Highlights:
    Finding the right business partner (4:36) Embracing new opportunities during COVID-19 (8:54) Starting a family while running a business (22:08) How to deal with guilt as a working mom (25:35) The importance of strong peer mentors when starting a business (27:36) Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our  go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

    • 38 min
    Finding Purpose By Giving Back with Laura Hutfless

    Finding Purpose By Giving Back with Laura Hutfless

    When Laura Hutfless was struggling to find her purpose as an employee, she decided to create new purpose for herself by starting a company dedicated to giving back. Laura co-founded FlyteVu, a Nashville-based, full-service entertainment marketing agency that uses the power of pop culture to connect brands with customers. Since starting the company in 2015, Laura has helped grow FlyteVu’s client roster to include companies like American Red Cross, Barefoot Wine, Cracker Barrel, Drybar and Spotify. They also created the first ever Super Bowl Ad with an all-woman team for Bumble with Serena Williams. FlyteVu was named to the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America list, and their campaigns have even won a GRAMMY and an Emmy. 
    In spite of all of these accomplishments, Laura is most proud of the way FlyteVu has been able to help others. The company has donated more than $750,000 to a wide range of nonprofit organizations in the past five years. Laura is especially passionate about mental health, substance abuse disorder, addiction and trauma, and she serves on the board of The Onsite Foundation, where she helped develop a trauma-informed therapeutic program called “Triumph Over Tragedy,” which provides tools, support and community for survivors of mass shootings. 
    In This Episode: Laura discusses some of the most important lessons she’s learned about leadership in the past five years of building her company, from managing different communication styles to dealing with self-doubt. She also shares about her passion for giving back to the community and investing in others, and she explains how a painful loss has inspired her to develop a new resource for mass shooting survivors. 
    Episode Highlights:
    How to do more of what you love as an entrepreneur (2:27) Laura’s journey of deciding to hire a leadership coach (10:19) Finding new ways to innovate (12:58) The importance of maintaining a sense of purpose (15:30) Dealing with failure and self-doubt (24:55) Working with others who have different communication styles (33:53) Finding the gift after loss (46:11) Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our  go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

    • 51 min
    Empowering Girls through Sport with Dr. Kimberly Clay

    Empowering Girls through Sport with Dr. Kimberly Clay

    Dr. Kimberly Clay started Play Like a Girl for a project in her PhD program, but when she saw volunteers coming together to carry on and grow its mission, she realized the organization could become something bigger. Play Like a Girl takes the transferable skills learned from playing sports and uses them to propel young women into STEM careers. To date, Dr. Kim and her team of volunteers have impacted more than 25,000 girls and young women around the world. 
    Even outside of her role as CEO of a non-profit, Dr. Kim is dedicated to serving the Nashville community. She’s a member of boards for the YWCA Nashville, the Junior League of Nashville, Tennessee Girls Collaborative and Ellevate Network’s Nashville Chapter. Dr. Kim has been honored for her work with numerous awards, including the 40 under 40 from Xavier University, the Daily Point of Light Award, Toyota’s Everyday Hero Award, and more. 
    In This Episode: Dr. Kim tells her inspiring story of starting and growing Play Like a Girl, including some of the biggest success stories she’s seen through her work. She also discusses the importance of partnering with men who want to support other women, and she explains how mentorship can help women of all ages become more confident and successful.
    Episode Highlights:
    Dr. Kim’s story of starting Play Like a Girl (11:50) Play Like a Girl Success stories around helping girls build confidence (22:25) Engaging men in the work of empowering women (29:15) Using your success to uplift others (33:28) Lessons on failure, confidence and mentorship (37:50) Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

    • 52 min
    Learning to Lead with Lisa Powers Struble

    Learning to Lead with Lisa Powers Struble

    When Lisa Powers Struble first started pursuing a career in fashion, she made up for her lack of industry connections with a willingness to work hard and take on any role. Eventually, she worked her way up to become a vice president at Abercrombie & Fitch and then UnderArmour. While taking a career break to care for her aging parents, Lisa discovered BANDED, a fashion accessory company that gives back by providing meals to children in need for every product sold. Lisa joined the company as executive vice president and then purchased it in 2018, becoming owner and CEO.
    An industry expert with more than 25 years of experience, Lisa has been featured in Sourcing Journal, Nashville Fashion Week, Textile Excellence and more. To date, BANDED has donated more than 13 million meals to undernourished children, and they also partner with U.S. based companies that help vulnerable women learn to thrive. 
    In This Episode: Lisa shares her inspiring story of building a fashion career from scratch and working her way up to vice president roles at two major companies. She also talks about the lessons she’s learned since becoming a business owner.
    Episode Highlights:
    Lisa’s story of breaking into the fashion industry without many connections (5:00) Building a tribe as a young working mom (9:04) How to know when it’s time for a new season (15:30) Transitioning from corporate executive to small business owner (23:13) Pivoting during COVID-19 (39:32) Entrepreneurship lessons Lisa has learned in her time at BANDED (46:29) Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

    • 59 min
    Simplifying Your Life with Emily Ley

    Simplifying Your Life with Emily Ley

    Overwhelmed by the stress of running a business on Etsy while raising a new baby, Emily Ley sat down to create a planner that would make her life easier. What started as a binder, paper and Sharpie evolved into Simplified, a multi-million dollar brand of planners and home organizational tools for busy women, which also includes product lines in Office Depot, Staples, Walmart and Target. Along with running her company, Emily is the author of four books, including Growing Boldly, her latest release that shares five key practices for building a life you love.
    Emily has been featured in Forbes, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, Glamour and Good Housekeeping. She’s been honored with awards including Entrepreneur of the Year, Female Owned Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year from Studer Community Institute, and her products have won Best New Product at the National Stationery Show. 
    In This Episode:
    Emily shares her inspiring story of growing her business from a side hustle into a multi-million dollar brand. She also unpacks the five practices she’s used to build a life she loves and explains how leaning into different areas of your life at different times can help you maintain balance.
    Episode Highlights:
    Emily’s story of starting her side hustle on Etsy while working full time (1:44) Growing without burning out (15:00) BUILD the life you love (18:30) Finding balance as a busy entrepreneur (24:50) How to imagine your dream life (32:55) Practical advice for working moms (36:23) Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored in part by Piccolo Marketing, providing outsourced marketing professionals for business owners.  Piccolo Marketing is our go-to resource when it comes to comprehensive marketing strategies and execution. Learn more here.

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
94 Ratings

94 Ratings

EricaBushwell ,

Awesome podcast!

Leah, host of the Her Story of Success podcast, highlights all aspects of careers and more in this can’t miss podcast! The host and expert guests offer insightful advice and information that is helpful to anyone that listens!

Ima listener ,

AWESOME!

Leah is a fabulous host and a joy to listen to! Highly recommend the listen!

SleepSavy ,

Genuine

I absolutely love this podcast. I am not an entrepreneur yet but I get something out of each episode that I listen to that just speaks to what I’m dealing with at the moment. Leah is an amazing interviewer. I never paid much attention to this before with other podcasts but her questions are great, she speaks on her experiences but it ties into the conversation, she doesn’t interrupt and she is genuine.

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