Build Your Own Boat

Janine Vanderburg
  • 5.0 (8)
  • 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. 13h ago

    Leaving Chiropractic for Health Coaching in Midlife: Dr. Sam Graber on Rebuilding Your Identity and Your Business

    Episode Summary Dr. Sam Graber spent decades as a practicing chiropractor before walking away from disease-focused medicine to build a health and life coaching business from scratch. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, she explains how burnout, an undiagnosed perimenopause transition, and a growing frustration with insurance-driven "disease management" pushed her to close her practice and start over — without a business plan, a mentor, or a clear name for what she was building. Sam shares the real, unpolished mechanics of that first year: undercharging for her services, encountering predatory business coaches, and slowly discovering that self-knowledge — not a perfect strategy — is the real foundation of a sustainable second-act business. She also unpacks why she now treats the body itself as business infrastructure, explaining how sleep, nutrition, and hormone health directly determine an entrepreneur's capacity to build and sustain a new venture. About the Guest: Dr. Sam Graber Dr. Sam Graber spent decades practicing as a chiropractor before leaving the field to build a career in holistic health and life coaching. Frustrated by a conventional medical model built around diagnosis codes and disease management rather than prevention, she closed her brick-and-mortar practice and reinvented herself as a health strategist — helping clients bridge the gap between their doctors and their own bodies. Today, through her "Strong Over Skinny" philosophy, Dr. Sam works primarily with women navigating perimenopause and menopause, coaching them toward stronger bodies, sharper minds, and metabolically sound lifestyles instead of restriction-based diet culture. She offers one-on-one coaching and a membership community, writes regularly on Substack, and also serves as Board Chair of The Starr Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to youth development. Key Takeaways Career transitions in midlife are identity transitions, not just business decisions. Leaving a licensed, credentialed profession like chiropractic care means rebuilding not only your income model but also how you introduce yourself to the world.Undercharging is one of the most common first-year mistakes for new coaches and consultants. Without a clear sense of the time, expertise, and transformation being delivered, many women entrepreneurs price their services far below their actual value.Not all business coaches are a good fit — vet them like you would a business partner. Red flags include coaches who ask for large financial commitments without first asking questions about your goals, background, or readiness.Self-knowledge is a prerequisite for sustainable entrepreneurship. Understanding what specifically energizes versus depletes you prevents you from unconsciously rebuilding the same "box" you just left, under a different name.Physical health is business infrastructure, not a personal indulgence. Sleep, nutrition, and hormone balance directly affect an entrepreneur's energy, decision-making, and capacity to sustain a new venture — especially during perimenopause and menopause.FAQ How do you know when it's time to leave a long-term career and start a business? According to Dr. Sam Graber, the signal is often less about a single dramatic event and more about cumulative burnout — a growing sense that the structure of your current work (such as insurance billing requirements in healthcare) no longer aligns with why you entered the field in the first place. She describes reaching a point where the day-to-day demands were "sucking the life and the light" out of her, which became the real catalyst for change. What should you look for when hiring a business coach during a career transition? Look for a coach who asks detailed questions about your background, goals, and readiness before asking for a financial commitment — especially at four- or five-figure price points. Dr. Sam Graber warns that coaches who skip this discovery process, or who treat all clients the same regardless of experience level, are a red flag, particularly for licensed professionals moving from a regulated field into entrepreneurship. Why do many new entrepreneurs undercharge for their services? Many first-time entrepreneurs, especially women, undercharge because they underestimate the time, expertise, and value of what they're delivering, and because of broader cultural conditioning that discourages women from focusing on money. Dr. Sam Graber says she "didn't know what it would even cost" to deliver her services in year one, a common gap for people transitioning from an employed or credentialed role into independent coaching or consulting. How does perimenopause and menopause affect entrepreneurship? Hormonal transitions can affect energy, sleep, mood, and metabolic health — all of which directly impact an entrepreneur's capacity to build and sustain a new business. Dr. Sam Graber notes that many women misattribute these shifts purely to sex hormones, when lifestyle factors like sleep, movement, and nutrition are equally responsible for how the body copes with midlife transitions. What does it mean to treat your body as "business infrastructure"? It means treating sleep, nutrition, movement, and hormone health as non-negotiable business inputs rather than optional self-care. Dr. Sam Graber argues that hustle-culture advice to sacrifice health for the business is backwards — depletion eventually leads to a health or mental health crisis that undermines the very business someone is trying to build. Resource Stack Dr. Sam Graber — Substack, "Strong Over Skinny": https://drsamroxo.substack.comDr. Sam Graber — official website: https://drsamgraber.comDr. Sam Graber — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsamgraberThe Starr Institute (youth development nonprofit): https://www.thestarrinstitute.orgBuild Your Own Boat — Substack: https://buildyourownboat.substack.comWhere to Find Dr. Sam Graber Substack ("Strong Over Skinny"): https://drsamroxo.substack.comWebsite: https://drsamgraber.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsamgraberThe Starr Institute: https://www.thestarrinstitute.orgAbout Build Your Own Boat Build Your Own Boat is a podcast series hosted by Janine Vanderburg — award-winning three-time entrepreneur and anti-ageism advocate and keynote speaker— featuring women who have launched new entrepreneurial ventures in midlife and beyond. The series is part of a larger storytelling project that includes a Substack publication and a forthcoming book, all built around one goal: changing the narrative about who entrepreneurs are and making women in midlife and beyond visible as builders of wealth, freedom, and possibility.

  2. 2d ago

    What Happens When Caregiving Interrupts Your Midlife Business? A Conversation with Wendy Green

    Episode Summary What happens to your business when an aging parent moves in and needs your care? Wendy Green, founder of Hey Boomer and host of the Boomer Banter Podcast, faced exactly this — and instead of powering through, she made a deliberate choice to scale back her podcast and refocus her energy on the work that gives her the most fulfillment for the least burnout. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, Wendy shares how she built a "fleet" of ventures — coaching, a podcast, a Substack newsletter, group coaching, travel experiences, and in-person classes at continuing care communities — and how she used a simple return-on-investment framework (time, energy, fulfillment, not just money) to decide what to keep, pause, or let go when caregiving for her 96-year-old mother became her new full-time responsibility. This conversation is a candid, practical roadmap for the millions of women who are simultaneously entrepreneurs and family caregivers — a reality the entrepreneurship world rarely discusses honestly. Key Takeaways Caregiving is a business risk that deserves real planning, not silent sacrifice. According to AARP, the majority of family caregivers are women, many in the same 50+ age range building or running businesses — making caregiving a mainstream entrepreneurial challenge, not an edge case.You don't need every credential before you start. Wendy earned a coaching certification and change leadership credentials, but she stresses that certifications gave her confidence, not permission — waiting for "one more course" is often just delay disguised as preparation.Evaluate ventures using time and fulfillment, not just income. When caregiving demands increased, Wendy assessed each business activity by asking what it gave her versus what it cost her in time and energy, then cut the parts (like heavy podcast promotion) that drained her most for the least return.Solopreneurship is lonely — collaboration fixes it. Wendy co-founded the Age-Wise Collective, a peer-support network of 12+ women podcasters over 50 who cross-promote, share resources, and problem-solve together instead of competing.Reinvention isn't always about starting over — sometimes it's rediscovery. Wendy is shifting her focus from building new things to rediscovering past skills and interests, describing her next phase as "rediscover and redefine" rather than reinvent.Protecting your mindset matters as much as protecting your schedule. While caregiving for a mother who says "96 is enough," Wendy holds onto her own age-positive beliefs by journaling daily, noticing small wins, and staying connected to people and work that make her feel useful.About This Episode In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, host Janine Vanderburg talks with Wendy Green, a certified professional coach and founder of Hey Boomer, about the entrepreneurial journey most business podcasts skip: what happens when you have to recalibrate your growing venture because a parent needs your care. Wendy walks through her path from a computer science career and corporate training roles into coaching, podcasting, and teaching — and then candidly describes putting her podcast on hiatus to prioritize caregiving for her 96-year-old mother, while still finding ways to stay financially and personally engaged through in-person classes and writing. The conversation covers building multiple income streams ("a fleet of boats"), avoiding the trap of over-preparing before launching a venture, using a peer support network to combat entrepreneurial loneliness, and a practical, three-part framework for deciding what stays and what goes when life happens. About the Guest: Wendy Green Wendy Green is a certified professional coach, speaker, and founder of Hey Boomer, a platform dedicated to helping adults navigate the second half of life with purpose and confidence. She hosts the Boomer Banter Podcast, a long-running show (270+ episodes) that has become a go-to resource for people exploring aging, transition, and reinvention after 50. Wendy holds change leadership credentials from Georgetown University and a professional coaching certification, which she draws on in her one-on-one coaching practice, her monthly Banter Circle group coaching community, and in-person classes she now teaches at continuing care communities near her home in Greenville, South Carolina. She also writes Thriving Through Time, a Substack newsletter exploring caregiving, personal growth, and life balance, and co-founded the Age-Wise Collective, a peer network of women podcasters over 50. Wendy is currently caregiving for her 96-year-old mother while continuing to coach, teach, and write — a real-time example of the recalibration she now speaks openly about. Frequently Asked Questions How do you balance running a business with caregiving for an aging parent? Wendy Green recommends evaluating every business activity by what it gives you versus what it costs you in time and energy, then scaling back or pausing the highest-effort, lowest-fulfillment activities — such as heavy social media promotion — while keeping the work that sustains you financially and emotionally, like teaching or writing. Why is caregiving considered a business risk for entrepreneurs? Caregiving is rarely discussed as a business risk, but according to AARP data, most family caregivers are women, many of whom are also building or running businesses. Sudden caregiving responsibilities can interrupt income, client work, and growth plans, making it a real and common risk rather than a rare exception. What is the Age-Wise Collective? The Age-Wise Collective is a peer support network of women podcasters over 50, co-founded by Wendy Green, who cross-promote each other's shows, share resources like SEO help, and collaborate instead of competing. Do you need certifications before starting a coaching or podcasting business? No. Wendy Green says her coaching certification and Georgetown change leadership credentials gave her confidence, not permission, to start. She encourages people not to delay launching a venture while chasing "one more" credential. Resource Stack Website: heyboomer.bizBoomer Banter Podcast: heyboomer.biz/podcastBoomer Banter on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/boomer-banter-real-talk-about-aging-wellBoomer Banter on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/14Spxcu2u6Tw4fhw7j0YbqThriving Through Time (Wendy's Substack): wendy421.substack.comAARP research on family caregiving statistics: aarp.org Where to Find Wendy Green Website: heyboomer.bizEmail: wendy@heyboomer.bizSubstack (Thriving Through Time): wendy421.substack.comBoomer Banter Podcast: heyboomer.biz/podcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wendy-green-heyboomerpodcastAbout Bu...

  3. Jul 16

    How Do You Turn a 20-Year-Old Business Idea Into a Movement for Girls? Featuring Jacqui Fishman of This Girl Can! Change the World

    Episode Summary Jacqui Fishman spent decades as a creative marketing strategist before reviving a shelved apparel line into This Girl Can! Change the World, a mission-driven brand and media property that tells girls, out loud and on purpose, that they have the power to change the world. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, Fishman explains how a Harvard graduate degree in children's media, a portfolio of designs that sat untouched for over twenty years, and the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic combined to push her to relaunch the brand — starting with "This Girl Can Vote" merchandise timed to the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. She shares how she beta-tested designs before investing heavily, how she prices products to stay accessible while still funding donations to organizations supporting girls' education and rights, why Facebook shut down her political-themed ad campaign, and how mission-driven partnerships — not paid ads — became her most effective growth strategy. The conversation offers a real-world roadmap for any woman considering reviving a dormant idea into a full-fledged, purpose-driven venture in midlife. Key Takeaways Dormant ideas can be revived successfully. Fishman's apparel concept sat "on a shelf" for more than 20 years before she relaunched it — proof that an idea's timing, not its age, determines its viability.Beta testing before scaling reduces risk. Fishman printed short test runs and shared them within her own network before investing in full production, a low-cost way to validate demand.Pricing should balance accessibility and mission. Fishman intentionally prices products (avoiding, for example, $40 t-shirts) so they remain affordable to families while still generating a donation stream for girls' education and rights organizations worldwide.Paid social ads are not the only — or even the best — growth path. After Facebook flagged and shut down her "This Girl Can Vote" ad as political content, Fishman pivoted to organic content and strategic partnerships with mission-aligned organizations, which became her strongest channel for growth.Confidence erosion in girls begins around ages 10–12. Fishman calls this "the confidence cliff" — the point where girls who were previously loud, curious, and fearless begin to internalize doubt driven by media portrayals and social pressure, which is why early intervention through stories and role models matters.About This Episode Janine Vanderburg sits down with Jacqui Fishman, founder of This Girl Can! Change the World, to explore how a creative marketing career, a Harvard graduate degree in children's media, and a decades-old shelved product line converged into a mission-driven brand built to help girls find their voice and claim their power. Fishman traces the connection between children's media representation and how girls come to believe what kind of life they're "allowed" to have, discusses the impact of screens and AI-generated content ("AI slop") on young children, and describes how the character Jane — a sassy, messy-haired stick figure representing every girl — became the face of a growing portfolio of apparel, storybooks, and planned animated media. The conversation also digs into the practical entrepreneurial lessons Fishman learned relaunching a brand in a completely different retail and social media landscape than the one she originally built it in decades earlier. Guest Bio Jacqui Fishman is a creative marketing strategist and serial entrepreneur who has spent her career helping startups, nonprofits, and children's media brands find their voice and bring their ideas to life. She holds a graduate degree from Harvard focused on children's media, studying how the content children see and hear shapes who they believe they're allowed to become. Fishman previously built and successfully sold a sports-focused apparel line into national retail, and has produced children's television series and books. In 2020, she revived a decades-old apparel concept into This Girl Can! Change the World, a mission-driven brand and media property designed to help every girl believe in her own power — now expanding into a planned book series and animated media featuring the brand's central character, Jane. Fishman also serves on the advisory board of The Legacy Project, an organization focused on intergenerational work. Frequently Asked Questions What is This Girl Can! Change the World? This Girl Can! Change the World is a mission-driven brand founded by Jacqui Fishman that uses apparel, storytelling, and planned animated media to tell girls, from the earliest age, that they have the power to change the world. The brand includes related lines like "This Girl Can Vote" and "This Girl Will Vote," and donates proceeds to organizations supporting girls' education, health, and rights worldwide. Why did Jacqui Fishman revive a 20-year-old business idea? Fishman had a portfolio of apparel designs that sat untouched for more than two decades. The 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, combined with the extra bandwidth created by the COVID-19 pandemic, gave her the timing and motivation to relaunch the concept, starting with commemorative "This Girl Can Vote" merchandise. What is the "confidence cliff" Jacqui Fishman describes? The confidence cliff refers to the point, typically around ages 10 to 12, when girls who were previously outspoken and fearless begin to lose confidence and develop self-doubt, often driven by media portrayals, social media influencer culture, and pressure around body image and perfectionism. Why did Facebook shut down Jacqui Fishman's ad campaign? Facebook flagged and shut down Fishman's paid ad campaign for "This Girl Can Vote" merchandise, categorizing a commemorative design honoring the 19th Amendment as political content. This forced her to abandon paid social ads and pivot toward organic content and mission-driven partnerships instead. How can women test a business idea before investing heavily? Fishman recommends printing or producing a small test run of a product and sharing it within your own network first to gauge reaction before committing significant money to full production — a low-risk way to validate whether an idea resonates before scaling. Is it too late to revive an old business idea in midlife? According to Fishman and podcast host Janine Vanderburg, it's never too late — dreams don't have an expiration date. Fishman's own experience relaunching a shelved apparel concept more than 20 years later, in a completely different retail and media landscape, demonstrates that timing and renewed purpose can make an old idea newly relevant. Resource Stack This Girl Can! Change the World — official siteThe Legacy Project, Inc. — intergenerational advocacy organization where Jacqui Fishman serves on the advisory boardSesame Workshop / Sesame Street — referenced as a benchmark for using media to help children learn and build resilience19th Amendment (National Archives) — the historical anniversary that inspired the "This Girl Can Vote" relaunchWhere to Find Jacqui Fishman Websites:

  4. Jul 14

    How Do You Build a Financial Plan for Midlife Entrepreneurship? Cindy Morris on The Benson Agency and Women Who Changed the World

    Episode Summary How do you build a strategic financial plan for entrepreneurship after 40 — one that includes retirement savings, catch-up contributions, and a paid-off house? This episode answers that question through the lived experience of Cindy Morris, founder of The Benson Agency and Women Who Changed the World. Cindy walks through the difference between building a business out of necessity versus building one on purpose, why she interviewed 60–70 women before designing a four-year financial and career plan for herself, and how she budgets, saves, and recovers from a slow revenue year without losing momentum. She also shares why she deliberately practices failure — through an art class and a personal trainer — to build resilience as an entrepreneur, and why publicly and vulnerably sharing her journey on Substack matters to other women considering the leap into midlife entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways A "necessity boat" and a "purpose boat" require different planning. Cindy built The Benson Agency out of financial necessity after leaving a 24/7 travel-industry career to raise her children; she is building Women Who Changed the World on purpose, with a defined four-year timeline and financial targets.Catch-up contributions matter for women who stepped out of the workforce. Cindy exceeds the minimum 401(k) contribution because years spent prioritizing family reduced her retirement savings window — a strategy she recommends to any woman planning a midlife financial catch-up.A four-year plan reduces the fear of a big transition. Rather than waiting until a deadline to plan, Cindy started building her financial and career runway four years in advance, using a detailed spreadsheet to track exactly how much she needs to save each month.Practicing failure builds entrepreneurial resilience. Cindy intentionally enrolled in an art class and hired a personal trainer — activities she is bad at — specifically to get comfortable with discomfort and failure before applying that resilience to her business.Asking "bigger" people for help rarely gets a "no." Cindy interviewed dozens of women she admired to build her plan and says not one of them declined to help — a reminder that reaching out to mentors and leaders is more accessible than most people assume.Guest Bio Cindy Morris is a nonprofit strategist, capacity-building expert, entrepreneur, and mother of two. She is the founder of The Benson Agency, a national consulting firm that provides behind-the-scenes operational and strategic support to nonprofit organizations, and the founder of Women Who Change the World, an emerging venture that teaches women to build strategic plans for their own lives and careers. Cindy previously served as Chief Advancement Officer at the American Society on Aging, where she worked for three and a half years after the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closed her consulting practice. Earlier in her career, she held roles with major hospitality brands including Hilton, InterContinental, Four Seasons, American Express Vacations, and Aeroméxico. Cindy writes candidly about money, planning, and vulnerability on her Substack, Women Who Changed the World. Frequently Asked Questions How do you create a financial plan for starting a business in midlife? Start by identifying a clear savings target and timeline — for example, a minimum retirement balance and a target date, such as having a home paid off or a set amount saved by a specific age. Build a month-by-month savings tracker, budget for a realistic average rate of return (Cindy uses 6%), and set aside extra income in the months it's available to cover leaner months ahead. How do you make up for lost retirement savings after stepping out of the workforce? Women who take time out of the workforce to raise children or care for family members often need to contribute above the minimum 401(k) or retirement contribution once they return to earning, since early-career years typically generate lower income and less time to compound savings. Setting a specific savings percentage above the standard minimum, and tracking it monthly, helps close that gap over time. How do you find new consulting clients when relaunching a business? Reach out directly to your existing professional network and say explicitly that you are available for work. Referrals from people who trust you — even those who have never worked with you directly — can lead to strong anchor clients. Securing even one solid anchor client can be enough to sustain a relaunch in its first year. How do you build resilience as an entrepreneur? Deliberately practicing activities you are not naturally good at — such as an art class or physical training — can build comfort with failure in a lower-stakes setting, which translates into greater resilience when facing setbacks in business, such as a slow revenue year. What is the difference between starting a business out of necessity versus starting one on purpose? A necessity-driven business is typically launched quickly in response to an immediate need, such as income loss or a life transition, with growth taking a back seat to other priorities. A purpose-driven business is built with a defined plan, timeline, and specific goals from the outset, allowing for more intentional growth and investment. Resource Stack The Benson Agency — thebensonagency.comAmerican Society on Aging — asaging.orgWomen Who Change the World Substack (Cindy Morris's writing on money, planning, and vulnerability)Where to Find Cindy Morris Website (The Benson Agency): thebensonagency.comSubstack: Women Who Change the WorldLinkedIn: Cindy Morris — connect directly for questions or to talk through your own plansAbout Build Your Own Boat Build Your Own Boat is a podcast series hosted by Janine Vanderburg — award-winning three-time entrepreneur and anti-ageism advocate — featuring women who have launched new entrepreneurial ventures in midlife and beyond. The series is part of a larger storytelling project that includes a Substack publication and a forthcoming book, all built around one goal: changing the narrative about who entrepreneurs are and making women in midlife and beyond visible as builders of wealth, freedom, and possibility.

  5. Jul 9

    How Do You Turn Perfectionism Into a Leadership Superpower After a Midlife Layoff? Kristen Harris on Building Her Own Boat

    Episode Summary After more than two decades leading global technology teams at Oracle and serving as VP of Services at an AI-driven consulting firm, Kristen Harris was laid off at 55 — a moment that felt devastating even though she already knew the role wasn't right for her. In this episode, Harris explains why perfectionism isn't a flaw to "recover from" but a trait that high achievers can sharpen into a strategic advantage, and how surviving breast cancer while working full-time reshaped her relationship to risk, corporate health benefits, and what she was willing to sacrifice for stability. She shares the exact framework she now teaches leaders — from millennial managers to midlife career-changers — for identifying their "unfair advantage," building an informal personal board of directors, and taking the leap into entrepreneurship without having to build the perfect business before selling it. Key Takeaways Perfectionism is not a pathology to fix — it's a leadership trait to refine. Research cited in the episode shows that roughly 85% of high achievers identify with some form of perfectionism, and Harris argues that trying to "recover" from it ignores a trait that, when understood, becomes a competitive edge.A layoff can feel devastating even when you already wanted to leave, because the loss of control — not the job itself — is often what's hardest to process.Health insurance fear keeps many capable women in jobs they've outgrown. Harris encourages women to research their real options (health exchanges, brokers, expert conversations) before assuming corporate benefits are their only path to coverage.Solopreneurs need a personal "board of directors." Instead of one formal mentor, Harris recommends building a network of trusted advisors — family, former colleagues, coaches, and even strangers met through networking — to replace the built-in support of a corporate team.You don't have to build the perfect product before selling it. Harris applies an agile, iterative approach to entrepreneurship: test an idea, sell it, and refine it based on real client needs rather than waiting for it to be flawless.About Kristen Harris Kristen Harris spent more than 20 years leading global technology and consulting teams, including roles as a director at Oracle — where her team delivered web platforms across nine languages for the entire company — and VP of Service Delivery at a software engineering and consulting firm, where she managed project delivery, resourcing, profitability, and quality at the leadership table. At 55, following a corporate layoff, she launched Kristen Harris Coaching, where she works with leaders and teams on leadership development, resilience, and what she calls "the perfectionist edge" — helping high-achieving, perfectionist-minded professionals turn that trait into a strength rather than something to apologize for. Harris is also a breast cancer survivor who continued working through treatment, an experience that reshaped her views on risk, stability, and building professional presence. She now serves as a cancer mentor through Imerman Angels, a Chicago-based nonprofit that connects cancer patients and caregivers with survivor mentors for one-on-one peer support. Episode Highlights What it actually looks like to operate as a "critical cog" inside large tech and consulting organizationsThe pivot moment — six months before her layoff — when Harris realized her new role wasn't the right fitHow a breast cancer diagnosis changed her calculus around corporate stability, health insurance, and riskIdentifying your "unfair advantage" as a midlife entrepreneurWhy niching too narrowly can limit your audience — and what "anyone hungry to lead" really meansThe reality of feeling out of place at founder meetups full of 30-somethings, and what to do about itBuilding a personal board of directors instead of a formal mentor or corporate teamThe difference between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, and the "Parisian perfectionist" archetypeAn agile, iterative approach to building and selling a coaching businessPractical advice for the woman who is afraid to make the leap: check your dream, check your resilience, then goFrequently Asked Questions Is perfectionism a bad trait for leaders? Not according to Kristen Harris. She argues perfectionism only becomes a problem when it's unexamined. Roughly 85% of high achievers identify with some form of perfectionism, and rather than treating it as something to "recover from," Harris teaches leaders to identify their specific perfectionist type and channel it into strengths like precision, resilience, and high standards. Why do women stay in corporate jobs they've outgrown? Health insurance and financial stability are among the biggest reasons women delay leaving corporate roles to start a business. Harris recommends treating this as a knowledge gap rather than a fixed barrier — talking to insurance brokers, researching healthcare exchanges, and understanding real options before assuming a corporate job is the only path to coverage. How do solo entrepreneurs replace the support of a corporate team? Harris recommends building an informal "personal board of directors" made up of trusted advisors, former colleagues, coaches, family members, and even new connections made through networking. The goal is to avoid isolation and get honest, varied perspectives rather than relying only on close friends who tend to agree with everything you say. What is a "Parisian perfectionist"? It's one of several perfectionist types described by psychologist Katherine Morgan Schafler in her book The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control. A Parisian perfectionist appears polished and put-together on the outside while struggling internally — for Harris, this showed up as difficulty delegating and giving others growth opportunities because everything felt like it had to be done a certain way. How do you know if you're ready to leave a corporate career and start a business? Harris suggests starting with the dream itself — can you clearly picture what you want and yourself doing it? From there, assess your financial and relational stability, and your resilience to handle early rejection. If your foundation is solid and you can bounce back from setbacks, that's a strong signal you're ready to take the leap. Resource Stack Kristen Harris Coaching — Kristen Harris's coaching websiteThe Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler — referenced framework for perfectionist typesImerman Angels — Chicago-based nonprofit connecting cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers with one-on-one mentorsCliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) — referenced assessment tool for identifying individual strengths, including "individualization"Lean Business Model Canvas — referenced framework for the "unfair advantage" concept discussed in the episodeWhere to Find Kristen Harris Website: kristenharriscoaching.comLinkedIn: Kristen J. Harris(search "Kristen J Harris" on LinkedIn)Instagram: Kristen Harris Coaching

  6. Jul 9

    How Do Family Caregivers Build the Business That They Need? Anne Patton on Founding A Better Life and Our Back Office Colorado

    Episode Summary When the school and disability-services systems couldn't give her son Chris — now 42 and living with autism — the life he deserved, Anne Patton built the infrastructure herself. In 2013 she founded A Better Life, a state-approved Program Approved Service Agency (PASA) that lets her bill Medicaid directly for Chris's residential, community, and employment supports, cutting out the 30–50% overhead that traditional agencies charge. Years later, realizing she wasn't the only aging mother running one of these agencies solo, she co-founded Our Back Office Colorado, a shared-infrastructure organization giving families of adults with disabilities peer support, succession planning, and collective bargaining power. This episode is a practical roadmap for any caregiver who has quietly been running a "business" — budgets, staff, compliance, hiring and firing — without ever calling it entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways A Program Approved Service Agency (PASA) lets family caregivers become direct Medicaid providers — after background checks and state approval through Colorado's Department of Public Health and Environment, families can bill Medicaid directly for a disabled family member's care, avoiding the 30–50% cut that large agencies take.Caregivers of adults with disabilities are, in practice, running small businesses — payroll, hiring and firing staff, compliance, billing, and navigating shifting regulations (including COVID-era changes) — even when no one, including themselves, ever labels it "entrepreneurship."Shared infrastructure solves the aging-caregiver crisis — Our Back Office Colorado gives families of adults with disabilities pooled resources (succession planning, peer coaching, potential shared payroll/billing services) so aging parents aren't solely responsible for what happens to their adult children when they're no longer able to provide care.Succession planning is the missing piece for most caregiving families — most families never document a plan for their child's care because they're too consumed by day-to-day caregiving; existing resources tell families what to plan but rarely coach them through making it actionable.Lived experience is an "unfair advantage," not a liability — the most successful founders in this space, including Anne, solved a problem they personally experienced rather than one they observed from the outside, echoing broader research on what drives entrepreneurial success.About This Episode Anne Patton didn't set out to start a business — she set out to build a good life for her son. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, Anne shares how advocating for Chris through Denver Public Schools, working in disability advocacy at Family Voices Colorado, and a frightening safety incident with a hired caregiver led her to found A Better Life, a Medicaid-funded service agency giving her — and Chris — direct control over his care team. She and host Janine Vanderburg trace the evolution from that first agency to Our Back Office Colorado, the shared-support organization Anne co-founded with other aging caregivers who were facing the same operational and succession-planning burnout. The conversation is a candid look at what it really takes to build a "business" out of necessity, love, and years of navigating bureaucracy — and why that makes Anne, and every caregiver like her, an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. About Anne Patton Anne Patton is the founder of A Better Life, a Colorado Program Approved Service Agency (PASA) providing residential, community, and employment services for her son Chris, who is 42 and lives with autism. A former banker turned disability advocate, Anne previously worked in finance and care coordination for Family Voices Colorado and the Chanda Plan Foundation, and has been active with the Arc of Denver and Advocacy Denver. Drawing on more than 40 years of lived experience navigating special education, Medicaid waivers, and home- and community-based services, Anne co-founded Our Back Office Colorado to give aging family caregivers of adults with disabilities shared infrastructure, peer support, succession planning, and a collective voice for policy change.   Frequently Asked Questions What is a Program Approved Service Agency (PASA) in Colorado? A PASA is a Medicaid-approved provider designation that allows an individual or organization — including a family member — to bill Medicaid directly for a disabled person's residential, community, or employment support services, after passing background checks and compliance approval from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. How can a family caregiver get Medicaid funding to support an adult child with a disability? Families can access Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers once their family member turns 18, based on qualifying disability and support needs. Becoming an approved provider, such as through a PASA, allows the family to control hiring, scheduling, and care decisions directly rather than working through a third-party agency. What is Our Back Office Colorado? Our Back Office Colorado is an organization co-founded by Anne Patton and other family caregivers that provides shared infrastructure, peer support, and resources — including monthly coffee talks and future plans for shared payroll and billing support — for aging families supporting adult children with disabilities. How do I start a service agency to support a family member with a disability? Start by learning your state's Medicaid rules and provider requirements, connect with existing advocacy and parent networks (such as Family Voices or JFK Partners in Colorado), and be prepared for background checks, compliance training, and ongoing regulatory changes. Anne Patton recommends staying curious, talking to as many people as possible, and recognizing your lived experience as an advantage most professionals don't have. Why do aging caregivers need succession planning for their adult children with disabilities? Many aging caregivers have no formal plan in place for what happens to their child's care and housing when they're no longer able to provide it themselves, largely because day-to-day caregiving leaves little time for planning. Organizations like Our Back Office Colorado aim to coach families through building an actionable succession plan, not just outlining what one should contain. Resource Stack Our Back Office Colorado — shared infrastructure and peer support for aging family caregiversFamily Voices Colorado — health navigation and advocacy for kids with special health care needsChanda Center for Health — integrative therapies for people with physical and other disabilitiesJFK Partners (University of Colorado) — early intervention and developmental disability training/servicesColorado Department of Public Health and Environment — state agency overseeing Medicaid provider approval and complianceColorado Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers — federal/s...

  7. Jul 9

    How Did a Tenant's Meth Contamination Turn a Banker Into an Entrepreneur and Public Policy Advocate? Kathi McCarty of Meth Toxins Awareness Alliance

    Episode Summary When a tenant secretly manufactured methamphetamine inside Kathi McCarty's Colorado log cabin, she discovered that meth contamination in rental and residential properties is far more common than most homeowners, real estate agents, or insurance companies acknowledge — and that almost no legal or financial protections exist for victims. In this episode of Build Your Own Boat, McCarty, a 30-year veteran of residential real estate lending and retail banking, explains how that crisis became the foundation for her second-act business, the Meth Toxins Awareness Alliance. She walks through what she found on her own property, why standard remediation and insurance failed her, how she helped pass Colorado legislation (SB23-148) creating a public meth-contamination property database, and how she is now building a preventative product — a meth toxin smart alarm — plus a digital education course for real estate professionals, landlords, and homeowners. Her story is a candid, practical roadmap for any woman over 50 building an advocacy-driven business around a problem most people don't yet know they have. Key Takeaways Meth contamination is far more common than the real estate industry acknowledges. After 30+ years in residential lending and retail banking, Kathi McCarty had never once heard meth contamination discussed as a real estate risk — until it happened to her own rental property.Standard remediation doesn't work for every property type. Because McCarty's home was a log cabin without interior drywall, the usual "gut it to the studs" remediation process wasn't possible, and the only approved alternative (chemical encapsulation) lacked long-term safety data.Property and tenant insurance policies typically exclude meth contamination and criminal-action damage, leaving homeowners financially exposed with no way to purchase additional coverage — a critical gap most owners don't discover until it's too late.Grassroots advocacy can change state law. McCarty testified before the Colorado General Assembly and partnered with then-State Senator Lisa Cutter to pass SB23-148, which created a public state database of meth-affected properties (in effect since August 2023).Building a market for prevention requires patience and reframing. Because meth toxin exposure is an invisible, unfamiliar risk, McCarty has had to position her work as a broader health, safety, and financial-legacy issue — not just a niche real estate concern — to get buyers, landlords, and professionals to pay attention.Bootstrapped, mission-driven entrepreneurs still need firm contracts. McCarty's biggest operational lesson: get commitments and payment terms in writing early, and don't be afraid to hold clients and collaborators to deadlines, even in "do-good" business relationships built on trust.Episode Overview Kathi McCarty spent more than three decades in residential real estate lending and retail banking across Southern California and Colorado. After a serious health event in 2016 led her to rent out her restored 1956 log cabin home, a tenant she had carefully vetted turned the property into a methamphetamine manufacturing site — contaminating it to nearly 240 times Colorado's legal limit. What followed was a crash course in an issue McCarty says the real estate industry almost never talks about: the legal, financial, and health fallout of meth contamination. She interviewed a dozen meth-testing and remediation companies, learned that her cabin's construction made standard remediation impossible, and ultimately had to sell the contaminated property rather than risk an unproven encapsulation process. That experience launched two parallel paths. First, advocacy: McCarty began offering continuing-education sessions for real estate professionals, eventually testifying before the Colorado legislature and helping pass SB23-148, a law requiring the state to maintain a public database of meth-affected properties. Second, entrepreneurship: she founded the Meth Toxins Awareness Alliance, now representing a tamper-resistant meth toxin smart alarm and developing a digital course to bring prevention education directly to landlords, investors, and homeowners — not just licensed real estate professionals. Throughout the conversation, McCarty and host Janine Vanderburg dig into the practical realities of building a mission-driven business: creating demand for a preventative product people don't know they need, navigating insurance and legal gaps, and learning to enforce contracts and payment terms without losing the trust-based relationships that make advocacy work possible. About Kathi McCarty Kathi McCarty is the founder of the Meth Toxins Awareness Alliance, an educator, speaker, and citizen advocate working to close the awareness gap around methamphetamine contamination in residential and commercial properties. Before launching her advocacy work, McCarty built a 30-plus-year career in residential real estate lending and retail banking across Southern California and Colorado, including executive-level management of a joint venture between a RE/MAX franchise and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. After her own rental property was contaminated by a tenant manufacturing methamphetamine, McCarty became a leading voice on meth toxin prevention — testifying before the Colorado General Assembly, helping pass SB23-148 (which created the state's public meth-affected property database), and developing continuing-education courses for Colorado's Division of Real Estate. She has delivered her CE course more than 50 times to real estate professionals and now represents a tamper-resistant meth toxin smart alarm while building a digital course to bring prevention education to landlords, investors, and homeowners nationwide. Frequently Asked Questions What is meth contamination and why is it a real estate concern? Meth contamination occurs when a property's surfaces absorb residue from methamphetamine use or manufacturing. It poses serious health risks to future occupants, is typically excluded from property and tenant insurance policies, and — in states like Colorado — carries legal disclosure requirements for sellers. Is meth contamination only caused by manufacturing (a "meth lab")? No. According to Kathi McCarty, roughly 99% of contaminated properties are affected by meth smoking rather than manufacturing, though most people associate contamination only with labs. McCarty is advocating for Colorado's legal definition to be updated to reflect this reality. Does homeowner's or renter's insurance cover meth contamination damage? Generally, no. Standard property and tenant insurance policies exclude contaminant damage, and many also exclude damage caused by criminal action — meaning even a tenant's own insurance policy may be voided if contamination resulted from illegal drug activity. What does Colorado's meth property disclosure law require? Colorado's SB23-148, which took effect in August 2023, requires the state health department to maintain a public database of properties that have tested positive for meth contamination. Properties remain listed for five years after remediation, even if they've been cleaned to the state safety standard. Can a meth-contaminated property be fully remediated and safely resold? It depends on construction type. Properties with standard drywall can often be gutted and rebuilt to meet state remediatio...

  8. 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+:

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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/

Information

  • Creator
    Janine Vanderburg
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Janine Vanderburg

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