The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 64: Creating An Inclusive Clothing Company with Spider Perry
Release Date: 10/24/2023
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 97: How To Stay Visible When It Feels Safer To Hide
Mission Driven Business
In this special and timely episode, Brian Thompson calls on fellow mission-driven business owners to embrace their identities and own their values. Highlighting real messages from clients, Brian explores the challenges and uncertainties facing entrepreneurs, especially those from LGBTQ+ backgrounds and other marginalized groups. He challenges the myth that being neutral is the safest option in the current political environment and shares practical steps to get clear and bold about who you are and what you bring to the table. Episode Highlights Your identity is an asset -- not a liability....
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 96: Writing Your Own Business Story With Faye Ziegeweid
Mission Driven Business
Brian Thompson chats with Faye Ziegeweid, founder and CEO of Queen Fayzel, a greeting card company for people who want to send messages that are unique, sassy, and sincere. Faye built her values-aligned greeting card company after realizing she couldn’t be her authentic self in her old career as a public health project manager. In this episode, Faye gets real about the personal side of entrepreneurship, including how self-discovery and personal growth are necessities for sustainable growth. She also shares how articulating your values clearly can attract the right clients and create a...
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 95: Empowering The LGBTQ+ Community With Sean Ebony Coleman
Mission Driven Business
Brian Thompson chats with Sean Ebony Coleman, founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, a grassroots agency and LGBTQ+ center in the Bronx borough of New York City. Destination Tomorrow empowers the most vulnerable LGBTQ+ community members through educational, financial, support-based, housing, and health programs. On the episode, Sean details how he and his organization are addressing some of the real challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community. He also shares how he starts his mornings to stay focused and touts the value of lived experience for organizations. Episode Highlights Mission-driven...
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 94: Marketing With Partners And Purpose With Erika Rodriguez
Mission Driven Business
Brian chats with Erika Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Nadi Marketing and co-founder of Tidal Pages. Erika specializes in partnership marketing for sustainable and purpose-driven businesses. In this episode, she shares how being laid off led her to entrepreneurship, the power of niching down, and how authentic partnerships can amplify your impact. Erika also details why email should be a top marketing priority and how joy, connection, and community have shaped her businesses. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses prioritize sustainability. Erika defines a mission-driven business as one...
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 93: Harnessing The Power Of Small To Create Global Impact With Masami Sato
Mission Driven Business
Brian chats with Masami Sato, founder and CEO of B1G1 (Buy1GIVE1), a Certified B Corporation that empowers businesses to make giving an inherent part of every business transaction. As an experienced social entrepreneur and speaker, Masami champions the "Power of Small" -- the belief that even the smallest acts of giving, when done consistently and collectively, can create meaningful change. In this episode, Masami shares how her entrepreneurial spirit drove her to create B1G1 and how staying rooted in her mission helped her build a business that supports more than 450 high-impact projects...
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 92: 6 Pillars of Successful Brand Messaging with Ashlee Sang
Mission Driven Business
Brian chats with Ashlee Sang, a values-aligned brand messaging strategist and consultant who equips visionaries to clarify and amplify their message. Drawing on her background in anthropology, Ashlee brings a values-centered approach to brand development, content creation, and marketing strategy. In this episode, she details common challenges faced by values-driven founders, shares her six pillars of successful brand messaging, and gives a few quick tips to get your brand’s story out of your head and into the world. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses are “why”-driven...
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 91: Deductible Business Expenses That Can Save You Thousands
Mission Driven Business
As an entrepreneur, you know that every dollar counts, so today we’re taking a deep dive into a topic that can save business owners thousands of dollars: deductible business expenses. In this episode, we’ll cover what makes an expense deductible, the savings that come with deductions, unexpected deductions, and the importance of bookkeeping. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a clear picture of how to make the most of your expenses and keep your money in your business. Episode Highlights Deductible expenses must be ordinary and necessary. Deductions are powerful. Every dollar you...
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Re-Releasing Episode 52: An Expert's Guide To Understanding The 1120-S Tax Form
Mission Driven Business
It’s tax season crunch time, so we are resharing a timely episode debunking the 1120-S tax return. In this episode, Brian will walk you through the S-Corporation income tax return to help you better understand what you’re filing and hopefully catch mistakes before it’s too late. He provides a section-by-section analysis of Form 1120-S and highlights key areas that business owners and tax professionals make mistakes. Episode Highlights Part 1: Heading, Income, Deductions, Tax and Payments Most of this information is drawn from your business’s Profit and Loss Statement. Here’s a...
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 90: Your 6-Step Checklist To Close The Books On 2024
Mission Driven Business
Ready to end the year with a gift to your future self? In this special episode, Brian guides you through a six-step process to close out 2024 and set yourself up for success in 2025. You’ll tidy your finances, get a jump start on thinking about taxes, evaluate your business performance, and set strategic goals. Your Year-End Business Review Checklist Step 1: Close Out Your Financials Closing out your financials may sound dry, but it’s imperative to get right. Review your books -- Review your profit and loss for the year for any discrepancies, outstanding invoices, or payments that...
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 89: Building Systems For Change with Davey Shlasko
Mission Driven Business
Brian Thompson chats with Davey Shlasko, founder and CEO of Think Again Training and Consulting, a company that helps align business actions and values. With more than 20 years of experience in adult learning and organizational development, Davey specializes in driving systematic change with a focus on equity and inclusion. Davey shares practical tools for aligning internal practices with external values, discusses strategies for fostering accountability and transparency, and offers hope for navigating uncertainty in today’s climate. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses put purpose...
info_outlineBrian chats with Spider Perry, founder of the inclusive clothing company NerdyKeppie. Spider initially created the company as a side business to provide LGBTQ Judaica for their daughter and now runs NerdyKeppie full-time with the help of several part-time employees.
On the episode, Spider shares how the business has evolved throughout its growth. They also list their top tips for keeping a business afloat and emphasize the importance of delegation.
Episode Highlights
Mission-driven businesses create the world you want to live in.
Spider defines a mission-driven business as a company that actively tries to create the kind of world you want to live in. This definition of a mission-driven business extends beyond just the products a company makes to the working environment it provides for employees.
“It has to go both ways,” Spider said. “It would be hollow if it were only outward facing or only inward facing.”
Get organized from the beginning.
When Spider started NerdyKeppie, they were the only person who had to understand how files were named and organized. But as the company has grown, the system they created didn’t always make sense to the other people working at the company. They advise other business owners to strategically organize files from the start.
“Keep track of things better than you think, and do it from the beginning,” Spider said. “I still have a file on our server now that I still have to finish sorting.”
If you don’t trust a person, don’t work with them.
Delegation is a crucial part of running a business, so it’s important to trust the people that you work with. If you don’t trust a person, you shouldn’t be working with them, Spider advises.
“If you can’t hand off something to someone and trust that they’re going to get it done in the way that you need, maybe you need to reevaluate that relationship,” Spider said.
Spider has had to end a few business relationships because they couldn’t trust the end result. However, the people he does continue to work with are empowered to make decisions and do the job right.
“I have to pay our operations lead for the job that I want him to do,” he said. “I have to make sure that he has the tools that he needs. And then I need to stop, walk away, and let him do the job.”
Resources + Links
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The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 59: Creating The Job You Want with Sarah Kendrick
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Brian Thompson Financial: Website, Newsletter, Podcast
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Follow Brian Online: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Forbes
About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast
Brian Thompson, JD/CFP, is a tax attorney and certified financial planner who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit.
On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.