116: Building Brand Personality in a Crowded Social Media Feed
The Corporate Dropout
What makes someone stop scrolling and actually connect with a brand on social media? In this episode of The Corporate Dropout, Rachael sits down with Jordan Schoonover to talk about building brand personality in a crowded social media feed. They break down why showing up human matters more than polished perfection, and how brands can stand out by being clear, consistent, and authentic. Rachael shares how to define a brand persona, what it really means to humanize your brand online, and why behind-the-scenes and user-generated content often outperform overly curated posts. They also discuss the...
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115: Leading with Hospitality: How Jon Dempster Grew Four Restaurants in Cape Charles
The Corporate Dropout
What does it take to build a thriving restaurant group in a small coastal town? In this episode, Rachael sits down with Jon Dempster, the restaurateur behind E&O Pub, The Shanty, Deadrise Italian Kitchen, and Brown Dog Ice Cream in Cape Charles, Virginia. Jon shares how he turned one dockside dream into four community-favorite restaurants, each grounded in hospitality, teamwork, and heart. You’ll hear how Jon navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, built a loyal team in a high-turnover industry, and learned to balance business growth with family life. He also opens up about the...
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114: Scaling Earthscapes - Growing a Family Side Hustle into an $8M Landscaping Business
The Corporate Dropout
What does it take to turn a family side hustle into an $8 million landscaping company? In this episode, twin brothers Josh and Matt Eldredge, co-owners of Earthscapes in Virginia Beach, share how they grew their father’s small lawn service into a thriving landscaping and outdoor living business. With over 20 years in the industry, the brothers break down the systems, leadership strategies, and team culture that helped them scale while staying true to their values. You’ll hear how they navigated challenges like hiring, managing quality at scale, and expanding into pools and design-build...
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113: From Fired to Founder: The Story Behind Layer 9 IT
The Corporate Dropout
Scaling a business is exciting, but doing it the right way takes strategy and intention. In this episode of The Corporate Dropout, Troy McCollum, CEO of Layer 9 IT, shares how he turned an unexpected setback into a thriving IT firm. After getting fired by his own dad, he took a leap of faith and built a company that now operates in multiple states. Troy opens up about the biggest lessons he has learned in leadership, hiring, and creating a business that runs efficiently and sustainably. He breaks down the challenges of scaling, the role IT plays in business success, and the key to building a...
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112: Inside Yorkies: Chef Kip Poole and the Art of Sustainable Comfort
The Corporate Dropout
This week on The Corporate Dropout, we're catching up with Chef Kip Poole, the brains (and taste buds) behind Yorkies and the CROP Foundation. Kip shares how he's turned his passion for food into a mission to create opportunities for aspiring chefs. We chat about the ups and downs of opening a restaurant, finding inspiration for new flavors, and why purpose is a huge driver in determining success. To learn more, visit the
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111: Heat and Hustle: Cien Chiles' Recipe for CPG Success
The Corporate Dropout
Get ready to feel the burn – this week's episode of The Corporate Dropout is habanero hot! Rachael is joined by Chef Maria Covarubbias, the culinary genius behind Cien Chiles. We talk about how Maria accidentally created a hot sauce empire while navigating the choppy waters of the CPG industry during the pandemic. We also learn more about Maria's culinary adventures, pandemic pivots, and her secret ingredient for success! Warning: This episode may cause sudden urges to quit your job and start a food business. Listen at your own risk! And stick around for a surprise at the end - a 15% off...
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110: Girl Boss Like a Pro: Networking, Burnout & Work-Life Balance
The Corporate Dropout
In this week’s episode, Rachael and D’Asia sit down to chat about Rach’s wild career journey and what led her to becoming her own boss! The gals are dishing about how to network as a young professional, leaving lasting impressions that matter, and self-advocating in the workplace. But Rach isn't holding anything back - she's getting real about her personal battles with burnout, struggling to balance it all, and why starting up Mix+Shine was an absolute must for creating a career that fits her life. Plus, you’ll hear D'Asia’s perspective about agency culture and how M+S checks...
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109: Reclaim Your Time: Entrepreneur’s Guide for Automation, Delegation, and Growth
The Corporate Dropout
This week, we're chatting with Mike Abramowitz – a seasoned entrepreneur, author, business coach, and philanthropist. Mike takes us through his business journey, sharing the highs and lows that have defined his path. Mike dishes about how he picked himself up after the 2008 financial crisis and the comeback that led him to training over 5,000 sales reps and generating a massive 17 million in sales! He breaks down how implementing automation, delegation, and systemization allowed him to scale multiple six-figure businesses and how he founded PB&J for Tampa Bay, a local charity...
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108: Aggressive Marketing in the Film Industry: Exploring Over Branding, Celebrity Controversies, and the Influence of Word-of-Mouth
The Corporate Dropout
In this week’s episode, Mix+Shine’s D’Asia Lasala and Hannah Seda join Rachael to discuss the recent marketing strategies observed in the film industry. Together, they explore the impacts of over branding and over marketing, as well as the underlying motives driving these tactics. The trio talks about success stories of movies with minimal marketing investments, such as Saltburn and Oppenheimer, emphasizing the effectiveness of unconventional promotion strategies and the influence of word-of-mouth. Additionally, they examine the impact of celebrity PR missteps and controversies on movie...
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107: The Influence of Creative Marketing Strategy on Customer Motivation
The Corporate Dropout
In this week’s episode, we catch up with Jen Pressley, the Head of Leesa Sleep. Jen walks us through her unique career path, sharing pivotal moments that shaped her journey to becoming a female leader in business. She discusses how she integrates her creative instincts into her professional endeavors, using the fundamentals of design to craft exceptional customer experiences in e-commerce. We also delve into her role as a strategic leader at Leesa Sleep, where she drives brand revitalization efforts and fosters strategic partnerships to drive growth and innovation. Tune in as Jen shares...
info_outlineIs being intentional with product development and branding really that important? Just ask SweetPea Co-Founder Heather Romens. Romens spent several years developing a chickpea-based, non-dairy ice cream that now holds its own against major CPG brands. Tune in to learn: important questions to ask yourself during product development, how to let go of perfectionism, how to keep pushing forward when faced with rejection & so much more!
To learn more, visit the show notes.