Courageous Conversations with Fran Pastore Fran Pastore

How are New York and Connecticut embracing growth, innovation, and collaboration? Join Fran Pastore as she engages in a dynamic dialogue with Alexandra Daum, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), and Hope Knight, President, CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development, New York State’s economic development agency, as they discuss the strengthened relationship, aligned objectives, and collective efforts between the two states to create a thriving future in the region.
 
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Hope Knight
Alexandra Daum
 
 
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To learn more about the Women’s Business Development Council and the support we provide to help women thrive in business, visit us at www.ctwbdc.org.  
 
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Join Fran Pastore in this episode of Courageous Conversations as she speaks with Dr. Oscar Guerra, an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker and UConn professor. Dr. Guerra shares his experience directing "Grit & Grace: The Fight for the American Dream," a 30-minute documentary produced by the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, led by CT Congressman Jim Himes. The film portrays the journeys of families from various parts of the US and examines their quest for economic stability. Listen in as Fran and Oscar discuss the impact of these stories and how they highlight our shared desire to achieve the American Dream, despite our diverse backgrounds and experiences. Don't miss this insightful conversation on Courageous Conversations! 

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Resources & Sources mentioned in this episode. 

La Cocina 

Building One Community 

Join Us for Women Owned Business Day 

  

To learn more about the Women’s Business Development Council and the support we provide to help women thrive in business, visit us at www.ctwbdc.org. 

Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon is on a mission to make financial literacy and saving for retirement more accessible for the state’s small businesses and their employees. He sits down with Fran in today’s episode of Courageous Conversations to talk about MyCTSavings, Connecticut's retirement savings program, and why it’s so important to him. His passion for the program was born, in part, from witnessing his own mother who, as a single parent, started a small business to support herself and her young family. She was able to grow the business into a successful venture over time, but still was not able to afford health insurance or retirement benefits. Comptroller Scanlan says he recognizes that this story is the plight of many women-owned businesses to this day and he strongly believes MyCTSavings can be part of the solution. The program provides small businesses and their employees an opportunity to save for retirement – at no cost to the employee or the employer! Listen in as Fran asks the questions about the program that are on the minds of all small business owners.
If you own an eligible business with 5 to 24 employees, you have until March 30, 2023 to either register for MyCTSavings or to let the Comptroller’s office know that you already offer a retirement program
Find out more at MyCTSavings.com 
Learn more about Comptroller Sean Scanlon at Office of the Comptroller or: 
Twitter: @CTComptroller 
Instagram: CTComptroller 
Facebook: Comptroller Sean Scanlon 
 
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Register for Women Owned Business Day
To learn more about the Women’s Business Development Council and the support we provide to help women thrive in business, visit us at CTWBDC.ORG and thanks for listening.  

 
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” – Ben Franklin
 
Mr. Franklin certainly knew what he was talking about – especially for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs! That’s why Fran is joined by WBDC Business Advisor Carol Cheswick on today’s episode of Courageous Conversations. Carol has helped thousands of clients craft their business plan. She knows many entrepreneurs are overwhelmed by the idea of creating a business plan – and she has advice on how to make the process manageable and stress-free.
Fran & Carol also discuss how completing a business plan has helped WBDC Equity Match Grant applicants & recipients become more conversant in financial speak, which in turns has helped them secure other funding.
If you’d like help getting your business plan started, contact info@ctwbdc.org
 Be sure to follow Courageous Conversations wherever you listen to podcasts.  
Thanks for listening to Courageous Conversations, a podcast dedicated to inspiring women entrepreneurs through the stories of incredible leaders! 
To learn more about the Women’s Business Development Council and the support we provide to help women thrive in business, visit us at www.ctwbdc.org.  
Sources & Resources Mentioned:
Learn more about the Equity Match Grant Program
Ron Angelo, CEO of Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology
“Sally’s Bakery” The E-Myth & the E-Myth revisited by Michael Gerber
 
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Unlocking Connecticut is a blog, Instagram account and website created by Lora Karam and Bev Canepari, which explores the places and faces of Connecticut. Fran recently had the pleasure of meeting Lora and Bev and invited them to join her to share their start up story, the challenges they see facing small businesses & their love of all things CT. Listen to hear about their entrepreneurial journey and learn about some of their and Fran’s picks for Connecticut’s most interesting hidden gems!
You can find out more about the dynamic duo behind Unlocking Connecticut by visiting their website at unlockingconnecticut.com
Mentioned:
Aquila’s Nest Vineyards
White Memorial Conservation Center
New Britain Museum of American Art
New Morning Market & Vitality Center
KC&E Adventures
Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
CT Audubon Society
Shayna B’s By The Sea
 
Be sure to follow Courageous Conversations wherever you listen to podcasts.  
Thanks for listening to Courageous Conversations, a podcast dedicated to inspiring women entrepreneurs through the stories of incredible leaders! 
To learn more about the Women’s Business Development Council and the support we provide to help women thrive in business, visit us at www.ctwbdc.org.  
 
Learn more about the Equity Match Grant Program
 
Find Out More About Us:
WBDC on Instagram 
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WBDC on LinkedIn
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WBDC Connect Members Facebook Group

The 2022 mid-term elections took place just over a week ago. While we don’t fully know all of the results or what they will mean for the balance of power in our country, it is clear that female voters came out in force to make their voices heard. In this episode of Courageous Conversations, Fran spoke with two extraordinary female leaders; Patti Russo, Executive Director at the Campaign School at Yale and Teresa Younger, CEO & President of Ms. Foundation for Women, about why elections matter, particularly for women and women-owned businesses and why it’s imperative that women become engaged in the decisions that are being made that affect them.
Be sure to follow Courageous Conversations wherever you listen to podcasts.  
Thanks for listening to Courageous Conversations, a podcast dedicated to inspiring women entrepreneurs through the stories of incredible leaders! 
To learn more about the Women’s Business Development Council and the support we provide to help women thrive in business, visit us at www.ctwbdc.org.  
Learn More about The Campaign School at Yale (TCSYale):
TCSYale on Instagram
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TCSYale on Twitter
Or call: (203) 734-7385
 
Learn More about Ms. Foundation for Women:
Ms. Foundation on Instagram
Ms. Foundation on Facebook
Ms. Foundation on LinkedIn
Ms. Foundation on Twitter
 
Find Out More About Us:
WBDC on Instagram
WBDC on Facebook
WBDC on LinkedIn
WBDC on Twitter
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WBDC Connect Members Facebook Group
Learn more about the WBDC’s Equity Match Grant Program