This special episode of Small Business School was recorded live at the High Vibe Women event—and let me tell you, the energy in the room was electric! I had the absolute joy of sitting down with Julie Cole, co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, mom of six, bestselling author, and all-around force. She shared how a product idea born out of her own family chaos turned into a beloved brand known across North America. We dove into her story, her mindset, and the lessons she’s learned about building a business with heart (and humour).

Key topics covered:

• How Mabel’s Labels went from a basement startup to a multimillion-dollar brand
• What it really looks like to grow a business while raising six kids (and why Julie gave up mom guilt 5 kids ago!)
• Visibility, community, and building a brand people connect with—especially in today’s noisy world
• The importance of delegating, hiring help, and knowing when to get out of your own way
• Productivity hacks, mindset shifts, and prepping for an exit—even if you're not there yet

Julie’s real-talk and unapologetic approach will leave you inspired and ready to take your next step—whatever that looks like for you. Whether you’re just starting or scaling, this one’s full of gold.

Connect with Julie:

Website: https://mabelslabels.ca/

Instagram: @juliecoleinc

High Vibe Women: Empowering Events for High Vibe Female Entrepreneurs

Website: https://www.highvibewomen.ca/

Instagram: @highvibe.women

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

In this episode of Business Builders, I’m sharing a little pep talk I honestly needed for myself too. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in the weeds, or like your team can’t move without you — this one’s for you. We’re talking about the shift from being the do-it-all operator to becoming the strategic CEO your business actually needs. I’ll walk you through what it means to delegate with confidence, build trust in your systems, and finally stop being the glue that’s holding everything together (in the not-so-good way).

Key topics covered:

• How to know if you might be the bottleneck in your business
• Simple mindset shifts to move from operator to true visionary leader
• Tips for delegating with trust (not guilt!) and empowering your team
• Creating repeatable systems that let you scale without cloning yourself
• The “Not Me List” homework that’ll free up your time — starting this week

If you've ever felt like you're the only one who can do things "right" — this episode will lovingly challenge that belief. Let’s grow through it together. 💪

Challenge

Make a “Not Me” list. Identify 3 tasks you’re currently doing that someone else could take over. Choose one and document or delegate it this week.

Mentioned in this episode: If you are running a business in Canada and you need help with all the things accounting related, but more importantly understanding the numbers I invite you to check out https://thriveaccounting.co/

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

In this episode of Small Business School, I sit down with Puja Malhotra, brand strategist and founder of ROOP Creative Agency. We get real about what it actually means to show up authentically online, why branding is more than just visuals, and how you can build a business that aligns with your life—not just your to-do list. This convo is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt pressure to be louder, do more, or market to everyone. Puja brings the calm, thoughtful vibes and major wisdom on how to stand out by being exactly who you are.

Key topics covered:

• Why branding is really a self-discovery journey (and why it’s okay to feel a little lost at times)
• How introverts can show up online in a way that feels right—without faking it
• Why personal and cultural identity play a big role in how you build a brand
• The power of getting clear on your “why” before diving into a full brand strategy
• How branding isn’t about constant rebranding, but building a solid foundation you can expand from

Mentioned in this episode: Find your entrepreneurial soulmates. Join the exclusive community of Canadian women entrepreneurs. Imagine finding your Work Wives™ who share the same bold, ambitious, entrepreneurial goals.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__workwives.co&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=NgHx3ikc5TkuG2GbHk3F2xqAsEGb-mzfBI-Gys9vwYw&m=88CFq1oXxvHuveOHhLqQahTlm82SwWEfbi-P5aAdEDNKAzlUZcOm7G4LsPuYfzzq&s=ZGabyIGi8QeCQWYPVZP87NbEpvjTAj7omZneLouM2BQ&e=

Connect with Puja

• Website: ROOP Creative Agency
• Instagram & Threads: @roopcreativeagency

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!