Badass Women in Business

Aggie & Cristy
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Bimonthly

Welcome to The Badass Women in Business Podcast, the definitive space for unfiltered, tactical insights into female entrepreneurship, enterprise scaling, and business monetization.  Hosted by seasoned business owners, growth partners, and exit strategists Cristy O’Connor and Aggie Chydzinski, this podcast moves past passive advisory to bring you directly inside the high-stakes execution of building and successfully exiting companies on your own terms. As hands-on growth partners who actively engineer scale and value alongside founders, we deliberately strip away the superficiality of traditional corporate highlight reels. Instead, we dissect the raw, hard-earned operational strategies and profound psychological shifts required to unlock true enterprise value.  Each week, our conversations turn systemic business obstacles into high-velocity execution plans, offering sophisticated, real-world frameworks for ambitious women who are leading teams, optimizing cash flow, and engineering highly scalable, exit-ready companies. Whether you are in the trenches of bootstrapping an innovative startup, navigating complex partnership dynamics, or designing the ultimate monetization strategy for your life's work, this podcast provides the active strategy needed to drive valuation and claim full autonomy over your future. Subscribe now to join a premier movement of women rewriting the rules of modern commerce, one definitive story at a time. New episodes deliver partner-level value every Tuesday.

  1. 4d ago

    Building the Business of Caregiving with AI, Trust, and Tenacity with Nicole àBeckett

    Send us Fan Mail Caregiving is one of the most universal experiences in life, yet it remains one of the most overlooked problems in healthcare, technology, and the workplace. In this episode, Nicole àBeckett shares how her own experience caring for both parents became the foundation for HeroGeneration, an AI powered platform designed to help families organize care, reduce overwhelm, and build real support before crisis takes over. Show Notes Nicole’s story reveals the hard but necessary leap from lived experience to scalable business, especially when the market is emotional, fragmented, and historically underbuilt because so much unpaid care has quietly fallen on women. This conversation explores what it takes to build in a category with no easy playbook, how AI can support rather than replace human care, and why founders solving deeply personal problems must keep listening beyond their own story. Why caregiving is not a side issue, but a major family, workplace, healthcare, and economic issue that affects women in their prime earning and leadership years.How HeroGeneration uses AI as a “second brain” for caregivers, helping families track information, coordinate tasks, and receive proactive support that preserves more space for human connection.Why asking for help is not weakness, and how better systems can make it easier for people to step in without adding more work to the person already carrying the load.What Nicole has learned about building a need to have product in a sensitive market, where trust, timing, and user feedback matter more than speed alone.Guest Contact & Connect Nicole àBeckett is the Founder and CEO of HeroGeneration, an AI powered caregiving platform built to help families stay organized, supported, and better prepared through life’s most complex care moments. Website: herogen.co LinkedIn: Nicole àBeckett Company LinkedIn: HeroGeneration Facebook: HeroGeneration Instagram: @hero__generation Join the proveHER community and read the companion blogcast for more conversations with women building companies, solving real problems, and leading with substance. --- Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts. Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way. Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

    49 min
  2. From Financial Shame to Strategic Control with Nancy Benet

    May 26

    From Financial Shame to Strategic Control with Nancy Benet

    Send us Fan Mail After divorce left Nancy Benet with four children, no income, five failed businesses, and more than $650,000 in debt, she had to rebuild not only her finances, but her confidence, judgment, and sense of personal agency. In this conversation, Nancy shares how women can move from avoidance and overwhelm into financial clarity, sustainable business ownership, and a more grounded definition of success.  Show Notes The Strategic Focus This episode examines the discipline required to rebuild a life and business when the old plan has collapsed. Drawing from her experience as a CPA, entrepreneur, and founder of two companies, Nancy Benet reframes financial recovery as a leadership practice rooted in responsibility, visibility, systems, and the courage to make small decisions that compound over time. Key Takeaways Financial shame loses power when it is brought into the open. Nancy explains why debt and money fear become more dangerous in secrecy, and why the first step toward control is often naming the problem, asking for help, and creating a clear plan. A sustainable business cannot depend entirely on the founder. After a family crisis nearly derailed her company, Nancy realized that recurring revenue, strong systems, and a capable team are not luxuries; they are what allow a business to survive real life. Tax strategy is not about avoiding taxes; it is about making better decisions earlier. Nancy shows how forward looking financial planning can help owners reduce surprises, protect cash flow, invest wisely, and use their numbers as a strategic tool rather than a year end reckoning. Confidence is rebuilt through action, not waiting. For women who feel stuck or unready, Nancy’s advice is practical and direct: start small, get educated, hire the right support, and stretch just beyond your comfort zone until courage becomes a habit. Guest Contact & Connect Nancy Benet is a licensed CPA, entrepreneur, and CEO of Fix-It Accounting and Success Your Way, where she helps women take control of their money, strengthen their business foundations, and create success on their own terms. Websites: https://www.fixitaccounting.com/ | https://www.successyourway.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/nancy-benet-cpa-18145014 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancybenet Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/success.your.way Join the proveHER community and read the companion blogcast for deeper insights, practical tools, and more conversations with women building businesses, wealth, and lives with intention. --- Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts. Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way. Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

    50 min

  3. May 19

    How Scarlett Leung Built a Beverage Brand Into 2,000 Stores and Learned When to Walk Away

    Send us Fan Mail Scarlett Leung, co-founder of Pretty Tasty, joins us for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a modern consumer brand. From turning around retail businesses and launching companies from scratch to rebuilding after founder heartbreak, Scarlett opens up about the realities behind entrepreneurship, leadership, fundraising, and growth.  Scarlett never planned to become a founder, but after careers in luxury retail, finance, wellness, and consumer brands, she found herself building one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the country. In this episode, she shares the real story behind scaling Pretty Tasty, navigating painful co-founder fallout, raising capital, and learning that resilience sometimes means letting go... Key Takeaways  Why Scarlett walked away from a company she helped build  The co-founder lessons every entrepreneur needs to hear  How Pretty Tasty scaled to 2,000+ retail doors in its first year  What investors actually look for in founders and brands  The truth about founder salaries, fundraising, and exits  How relationships and reputation can accelerate growth  Why resilience is about adaptability, not just pushing through  The emotional side of leadership and identity as a founder Timestamps 05:40 From Deloitte to luxury retail and running a $200M business 15:20 The co-founder conflict that changed everything 33:45 How Pretty Tasty was created and positioned in the market 45:10 Scaling into CVS, Sprouts, and Target 58:30 Founder identity, ego, and learning to let go Resources Mentioned  Pretty Tasty  BevNet Best New Beverage Award  MIT Sloan School of Management  Deepak Chopra Wellness  National Board for the Diabetes Research Institute Connect with Scarlett Instagram: @drinkprettytasty LinkedIn: Scarlett Leung Website: prettytasty.com Connect with Us Subscribe to the Badass Women in Business Podcast for new episodes every Tuesday featuring honest conversations with women building meaningful businesses. --- Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts. Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way. Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

    50 min

  4. May 12

    From Refugee to Founder: Soon Hagerty on Building Businesses That Give Back Without Burning Out

    Send us Fan Mail What if success is not about balance, but about building a life with purpose, curiosity, and impact? In this episode, Soon Hagerty shares how fleeing Vietnam as a child shaped her entrepreneurial mindset, why “business for good” has to be built into the model from day one, and the biggest mistake women founders make when chasing growth. This conversation is packed with honest insights on leadership, resilience, growth mindset, and creating businesses that actually mean something.  Show Notes Key Takeaways  Why the best businesses solve meaningful problems first  How Soon built mission driven brands without making impact an afterthought  The mindset shift from survival thinking to expansion thinking  Why curiosity and asking better questions are founder superpowers  The truth about “work life balance” and why Soon believes in seasons instead  How women founders can start giving back without overextending themselves  Why growth mindset is less about talent and more about learning fast Pivotal Moments Soon’s origin story: From escaping Vietnam to entrepreneurship The rug pull moment: Losing a succession plan and starting her first agency The Good Bowl: Building a restaurant that donates with every purchase Growth mindset in action: Why founders must stay curious to survive The “seasons not balance” philosophy: A refreshing take on ambition and burnout Resources Mentioned  Boundless Futures Foundation (BFF)  The Good Bowl  Hagerty  CHIEF  How Women Lead  Uber’s women driver initiative Favorite Quotes “There’s barely a risk you can’t unravel. So why not take it?” “You don’t create a business and then make it meaningful. You create a meaningful business from the beginning.” “The most important person you manage is yourself.” Connect + Learn More Guest: Soon Hagerty Founder, Boundless Futures Foundation LinkedIn: soon-hagerty-5637448 Instagram: @soonhagerty --- Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts. Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way. Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

    51 min

  5. May 5

    Building What Tech Ignored: Rebecca Matchett on Connection, Neurodivergence, and the Business of Belonging

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when a seasoned entrepreneur steps away from building brands and decides to solve something far more human? In this episode, Rebecca Matchett shares her journey from launching fashion brands like alice + olivia to co-founding Synchrony, an AI-assisted platform designed to help neurodivergent adults build real connection. What started as a gap she couldn’t ignore has turned into a mission-driven business tackling one of the most overlooked challenges in tech: social isolation. Rebecca breaks down why traditional platforms have failed this community, what it actually means to build with empathy, and how she’s approaching growth in a way that prioritizes trust over speed. This is a conversation about seeing what others miss, building something that matters, and redefining what success looks like when the impact goes far beyond the product. Episode Notes  Rebecca’s path from advertising to building multiple fashion brands  Why she consistently builds in industries she doesn’t know  The moment Synchrony became more than just an idea  The “gap” most of tech has ignored and why it matters  What people misunderstand about neurodivergent adults and connection  The concept of the “services cliff” and what happens after age 21  How Synchrony is designed differently from traditional social platforms  The role of AI and why it’s built to support, not replace, human interaction  What it takes to build trust with an underserved community  The tension between intentional growth and scaling a social platform  Lessons from past partnerships and how she approaches them today  What success actually looks like for Synchrony users  Where the platform is headed and the bigger vision for impact About Rebecca Matchett Rebecca Matchett is a seasoned entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience building and scaling brands across fashion and e-commerce. She has founded and led multiple companies, including alice + olivia and TrioFit, where she developed a patented women’s sizing system. Her latest venture, Synchrony, launched in 2026 and is an AI-assisted social platform designed specifically for neurodivergent adults.  Connect + Learn More Website: https://joinsynchrony.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-winn-matchett-6356481/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinsynchrony/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joinsynchrony --- Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts. Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way. Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

    44 min

  6. Apr 28

    Deborah Farone on Why Business Development Is the Skill Women Can’t Ignore

    Send us Fan Mail There’s a point in your career where being good at your work stops being enough. You’re experienced. You deliver. You’re trusted. But growth slows, and the path to real influence or ownership becomes less clear. Deborah Farone has spent her career inside that reality. As former Chief Marketing Officer of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Debevoise & Plimpton, and now CEO of Farone Advisors LLC, she has worked alongside some of the most successful professionals in the world. What she’s seen is consistent. The people who rise are not just experts. They know how to build relationships, create visibility, and generate business. In this conversation, Deborah shares insights from her upcoming book Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices, based on interviews with more than 60 women who have built influential, profitable careers. One of the biggest shifts she challenges is how we think about business development. It’s not a personality trait. It’s a skill that gets stronger with repetition and intention.  She also reframes sales in a way that removes the resistance many women feel. The most effective approach is not about pushing. It’s about understanding, supporting, and building trust over time. We also get into:  Why women are still underrepresented at the top  How to build visibility without feeling forced  The role of authenticity, empathy, and expertise in trust  What actually changes when you step out on your own Deborah also shares the less talked about side of success, including navigating isolation and being intentional about connection as your career evolves. If you’re ready for more control over your growth and opportunities, this is a conversation worth sitting with. Show Notes Guest: Deborah Farone CEO, Farone Advisors LLC Former CMO, Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Debevoise & Plimpton Deborah Farone is an internationally recognized marketing strategist who has spent decades advising top law firms and professional service organizations on growth, leadership, and client development. Through her work and her upcoming book Breaking Ground, she brings a clear perspective on what actually drives long-term success for women in high-performance careers. Key Takeaway Business development is not something you either have or don’t. It’s a skill you build over time and the sooner you treat it that way, the more control you have over your career. Resources & Links Website: https://deborahfarone.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-brightman-farone-4061655/ --- Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts. Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way. Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

    49 min

  7. Apr 21

    When One Woman Thrives, Communities Rise with Shannon Fernando

    Send us Fan Mail What if the solution to hunger isn’t more aid, but empowering women? Shannon Fernando, Founder and CEO of Alabaster International, is working on the frontlines of healthcare, food security, and female entrepreneurship across East Africa and South Asia. In this episode, she shares what she’s learned from nearly two decades in the field, why most approaches to impact fall short, and how women are the key to transforming entire communities. This is a real look at what it takes to create change that actually lasts. Show Notes In this episode:  The rejection that redirected Shannon’s entire path  What it really looks like working in conflict zones and remote communities  Why most people misunderstand the communities they’re trying to help  The truth about empowering women and economic impact  The stat that changes how you think about giving and investing  How indigenous crops like Enset are helping fight hunger  What it takes to build trust and create sustainable change  The reality of fundraising and leading a global nonprofit  How Shannon stays grounded in work that is emotionally heavy  A powerful story that defines why this work matters  What women in business can do right now to make an impact Key Takeaway When women have access to resources, they don’t just improve their own lives, they lift entire communities with them. Guest Contact + Resources Website: https://www.alabasterinternational.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alabaster_international/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alabaster-international Get Involved  Support the work through one time or monthly giving  Learn about their programs and impact  Explore opportunities to volunteer or travel with the team  Stay connected to their mission and updates--- Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts. Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way. Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

    50 min

  8. Apr 14

    From Loss to Lifeline: Cristina Bernardo on Building Avocado Health and Supporting Parents When It Matters Most

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the system meant to support you leaves you with more questions than answers? In this episode, Aggie and Cristy sit down with Cristina Bernardo, co-founder of Avocado Health, to share the deeply personal story behind the company and the mission driving it forward. After losing her daughter Aviva following months of medical uncertainty, Cristina and her husband made a commitment no parent should ever have to navigate fear, confusion, or isolation alone. That promise became Avocado Health, a platform delivering real-time, evidence-based parenting support through simple text messages, meeting parents exactly where they are. Cristina opens up about the reality of parenting in today’s world, from postpartum anxiety and overwhelming decision-making to the pressure of comparison fueled by social media. She shares how even with access to doctors and resources, parents are often left unsure of what to do in critical moments. This conversation goes beyond the product. It is about building something meaningful from loss, navigating grief while creating impact, and redefining what support for parents should actually look like. Cristina also shares how Avocado Health works, why a text-based platform is more effective than traditional apps, and how the company is helping parents cut through noise to get clear, trusted answers when they need them most. Looking ahead, her vision is focused on expanding access to underserved communities, partnering with nonprofits and public health organizations, and bringing this level of support to parents globally. If you are a parent, building a mission-driven business, or navigating uncertainty in your own life, this episode will stay with you. What You’ll Learn How Cristina’s personal loss led to the creation of Avocado HealthWhy parents often feel alone, even when support existsThe difference between postpartum anxiety and postpartum depressionHow real-time support can change decision-making in critical momentsWhy text-based tools are more effective for busy parentsThe impact of comparison and social media on parentingHow to build a business rooted in purpose and resilienceKey Takeaway Parents don’t need more information. They need the right information, at the right time, in the moments that matter most. Guest Guest Cristina Bernardo Avocado Health --- Subscribe and Review If you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts. Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way. Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here: Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

    50 min
See All (149)

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Badass Women in Business Podcast, the definitive space for unfiltered, tactical insights into female entrepreneurship, enterprise scaling, and business monetization.  Hosted by seasoned business owners, growth partners, and exit strategists Cristy O’Connor and Aggie Chydzinski, this podcast moves past passive advisory to bring you directly inside the high-stakes execution of building and successfully exiting companies on your own terms. As hands-on growth partners who actively engineer scale and value alongside founders, we deliberately strip away the superficiality of traditional corporate highlight reels. Instead, we dissect the raw, hard-earned operational strategies and profound psychological shifts required to unlock true enterprise value.  Each week, our conversations turn systemic business obstacles into high-velocity execution plans, offering sophisticated, real-world frameworks for ambitious women who are leading teams, optimizing cash flow, and engineering highly scalable, exit-ready companies. Whether you are in the trenches of bootstrapping an innovative startup, navigating complex partnership dynamics, or designing the ultimate monetization strategy for your life's work, this podcast provides the active strategy needed to drive valuation and claim full autonomy over your future. Subscribe now to join a premier movement of women rewriting the rules of modern commerce, one definitive story at a time. New episodes deliver partner-level value every Tuesday.

Information

  • Creator
    Aggie & Cristy
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    149
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Badass Women in Business
  • Show Website
    Badass Women in Business

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