Build an Obsession Brand

People often ask me: ““What’s the #1 thing that allows product-based entrepreneurs to make that leap from bootstrapped and broke to cash flow positive?" My answer is always the same: Learning how to grow their revenue with scientific precision. So why is it so hard to cross that profit-bridge and start seeing momentum in your cash flow? The answer is simple. You can’t build a brand entirely on intuition and gut-feel. You need to know your numbers. I’ve worked with local start-ups and massive corporate brands like Dove, L’Oreal, Chobani, and Lays. And now, I’m sharing that same magic with you! Tune in to learn how data-driven brand obsession is your ticket to new heights in your business (and your sales!) You’ll hear a mix of my handpicked guest experts, live consulting calls, and my everyday musings based on my many years in the biz. Learn from my mistakes, celebrate my clients’ successes, and get excited for what comes next. The best is yet to come!

#114. Building a Brand That Competes: The Power of Strategy and Data with Eleanor Beaton 06/27/2025

#114. Building a Brand That Competes: The Power of Strategy and Data with Eleanor Beaton You are not your business, but you do owe it your leadership. In this episode, I’m joined by powerhouse founder, coach, and podcast host Eleanor Beaton to unpack what it really takes to build an enduring brand. From mastering premium positioning to separating your personal identity from your product, Eleanor drops truth bombs every product-based founder needs to hear. What You’ll Learn: Why being obsessed with your customer is your most underutilized advantage The mindset shift every founder must make to scale sustainably Why women entrepreneurs over-rely on marketing and how to fix it with sales The real difference between producers and replicators (and why it matters for growth) What Fenty and Good American get right about brand positioning If you’ve ever felt like you’re too close to your business to sell it, or you're relying on marketing when it’s a sales problem, this conversation is your wake-up call. About Eleanor Eleanor Beaton is the founder of Safi Media, a coaching and education company dedicated to doubling the number of women founders who sustainably scale to $1M+ by 2030, and the host of the Woman Owned podcast, now ranked in the top 0.5% of all podcasts globally, providing insights and strategies to empower women entrepreneurs. Since 2016, Eleanor has provided training to over 25,000 women entrepreneurs worldwide. A former chair of the Visiting Women’s Executive Exchange Program at the Yale School of Management, Eleanor has won national awards for her achievements in entrepreneurship, leadership development and business journalism. She lives in Nova Scotia with her husband and two sons. Connect with Eleanor ✨ GROW YOUR BRAND: Ready to build an obsession brand and scale it with scientific precision? ✨ FREE TRAINING: Want to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: ✨ CONNECT: 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/37171750

#113. Mac vs. Maybelline: How Two Brands Sell the Same Product Differently 06/13/2025

#112: How To Pitch Your Product and Actually Get Featured in Top Media with Gloria Chou 05/30/2025

#112: How To Pitch Your Product and Actually Get Featured in Top Media with Gloria Chou Big brands don’t land in Vogue by accident and guess what? Neither will yours. In this episode, I’m sitting down with PR powerhouse Gloria Chou, a former U.S. diplomat turned media strategist who’s helped over 10,000 small businesses get featured without hiring expensive agencies. She’s breaking down her signature CPR pitching method and giving you the exact framework to pitch your product to top-tier media outlets, no fancy connections or massive ad budget required. If you’ve ever wondered how to get real media coverage that builds brand trust, boosts your SEO, and puts your product in front of thousands, this one’s for you. What You’ll Learn: Why traditional PR is broken and how to do it differently Gloria’s CPR pitch method to grab a journalist’s attention (even if you’re brand new) How to find and contact the right media editors for your product The difference between a good story and a relevant pitch Free tools to build your own media list How to repurpose PR features to build brand authority and increase traffic Thanks for tuning in. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest episodes. About Gloria Gloria Chou is an award-winning PR strategist and host of the top-rated Small Business PR Podcast. Known for her untraditional yet proven approach to PR which makes visibility and access to media accessible for anyone, Gloria helps BIPOC and female founders get featured organically in top-tier media without needing PR connections or a large following. Her strategies have earned small businesses in nearly every industry niche over a billion organic views and features in outlets like the New York Times, Oprah’s Favorite Things, Vogue, and Forbes, without any pay-to-play. A former U.S. Diplomat turned small business advocate, Gloria has been on 100 podcasts and was named "Pitch Writing Expert of the Year" in 2021 as part of the Influential Businesswomen Awards, and a Forbes Next 1000 honoree. Connect with Gloria ✨ GROW YOUR BRAND: Ready to build an obsession brand and scale it with scientific precision? ✨ FREE TRAINING: Want to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: ✨ CONNECT: 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/36761435

#111: Building with Intention: Navigating Postpartum Challenges as a New Mom and Entrepreneur 05/16/2025

#110: Using AI Without Losing Your Voice or Vision 05/02/2025

#109: My Break Wasn’t a Breakdown—It Was a Reset 04/18/2025

#108: Why Trusting the Process Led to My Biggest Business Breakthrough 04/04/2025

#107: Traditional Branding is Dead, Here’s What’s Working in 2025 03/21/2025

#107: Traditional Branding is Dead, Here’s What’s Working in 2025 Building a brand isn’t just about selling a product—it’s about creating something people want to be part of. But what if your brand could go beyond just recognition and become a true extension of your customer’s identity? That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in this conversation with Veronica Romney, a marketing powerhouse with nearly two decades of experience working with some of the biggest names in business. She’s here to break down the game-changing concept of Identity Marketing—a strategy that allows brands to connect deeply with their customers by aligning with who they are and what they stand for. We’re diving into how brands like Harley-Davidson, Taylor Swift, and Nike have mastered identity-driven marketing—and how you can apply the same principles, whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or scaling a product-based business. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a brand people obsess over, grab a notebook and get cozy because this episode is packed with valuable strategies and insights. What You’ll Learn: The real difference between branding and identity marketing (and why it matters) Why your customers are rebranding themselves in 2025—and how to stay relevant The 4-step Identity Code Framework that makes brands unforgettable How to create an identity-driven brand (even if you’re not a celebrity) The role of psychology, community, and self-definition in brand loyalty Why traditional marketing tactics aren’t working anymore—and what to do instead ✨Connect with Veronica Get your copy of Identity Marketing at . ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: ✨ FREE TRAINING: Want to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: ✨ GROW YOUR BRAND: Ready to build an obsession brand and scale it with scientific precision? /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/35802905

#106: Make the Right Pick: Dior Forever Skin Glow or Fenty Sheer Foundation 04/24/2024

#106: Make the Right Pick: Dior Forever Skin Glow or Fenty Sheer Foundation Whether you’re a full-face glam type or a natural face girlie, you probably already know one of the most important (and hard to perfect) steps of the makeup routine: Your foundation. I was struggling with this myself this past year. My usual go-to—the Fenty Sheer Glow foundation—just never really agreed with my skin, no matter what I tried. It looks so bomb on other people, but on me, it just sat kind of cakey and dry. My skin never drank it up like I wanted it to. Enter my new fav: the Dior Forever Skin Glow foundation. I gave this one another try, and voila: melty, glassy perfection! But of course, you know me—it’s never just about makeup. My recent discovery got me thinking about the parallels between the foundation we put on our faces and the foundation of our product-based brands. (Stick with me here!) Your base sets the tone for your final look. It either pulls everything together, or it sets you up for failure. It can either make you feel like a glowy goddess, or it makes you feel self-conscious and out of place. It’s also a tricky balance that takes some people years to really nail. But once you do, there is no turning back! Trust me—finding that right foundation (whether for your face or your brand) makes you feel like you’re on Cloud 9. And if you need a little help finding the right match, be sure to tune in to this week’s podcast episode, where we dive into the things you need for the best brand foundation possible, including: 💄Raving about specific features and benefits of your product 💄Showing the moment of choice to back up your premium pricing 💄Adding character, depth, and personality with your positioning And more! You deserve a foundation that flatters you—let’s figure out what that looks like for your brand! ✨ FREE TRAINING: Ready to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: ✨ WORK WITH MAUREEN: Ready to revolutionize your brand by mapping and mastering the brand growth levers your brand needs to get increased visibility, sales certainty and cash confidence? ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/30943593

#105: The REAL Reason Your Product Isn't Flying Off the Shelves (and how to fix it!) 04/10/2024

#104: Pitch With Confidence To Get Funded Faster With Kat Weaver 03/27/2024

#103: What's In and Out In Marketing In 2024 03/20/2024

#102: Here are 4 Common Reasons Why You Are Experiencing A Sales Plateau or Capped Growth 03/13/2024

#102: Here are 4 Common Reasons Why You Are Experiencing A Sales Plateau or Capped Growth As we head into Q2, you may be pouring over the bills on the table with a heavy heart. It probably feels like there’s not enough to work with—too little in the bank, too many expenses popping up, and no room to breathe in between. You may have even seen your sales plateau, despite doing EVERYTHING right. You’re showing up, you’re putting in the work, and yet, your sales aren’t matching your energy. If this hits close to home for you right now, then I’m here to share one of the most important things you’ll ever read when it comes to your brand: You do not need a lot of money to build a really successful brand. Let me repeat that: you do not need a lot of money to build a successful brand. You ALSO don’t need a lot of money to break out of that sales plateau and get your growth back on track. So that leaves the question: what do you need? That’s the key question we’re diving into in this week’s podcast episode! This week, we’re digging into real, tangible ways to break out of your capped growth and get your brand momentum back, including: ✨ How being brave in your business can open doors you never thought possible ✨ How marketing is a skill that ANYONE can master—no bubbly personality required! ✨ How to break through in even the most saturated markets And more! There is a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to your brand’s progress this year. If you’re tired of crunching the numbers in a panic, then be sure to tune in and see how your brand growth strategy can make that dreaded sales plateau a thing of the past! ✨ FREE TRAINING: Ready to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: ✨ WORK WITH MAUREEN: Ready to revolutionize your brand by mapping and mastering the brand growth levers your brand needs to get increased visibility, sales certainty and cash confidence? ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/30347223

#101 Who Should You Hire To Support The Growth of your eCommerce Brand 03/06/2024

#101 Who Should You Hire To Support The Growth of your eCommerce Brand Picture this: You’re doing all the right things. Your content is getting clicks, your sales are trickling in. Things are finally starting to move in the right direction. In fact, things are almost going too well. As the CEO, you are the one responsible for everything. The planning, the marketing, the writing, the accounting. Everything. And you are tired. So what do you do? The marketing gurus online seem to all point to one thing: hiring a team. That should make things easier, but now you’re faced with another crucial decision: Who in the world do you hire? Do you need an assistant? A coach? A marketing agency? I’m here to tell you a secret: who you hire makes all the difference. Even the most qualified candidate can be more of a boon than a catalyst to your brand if they’re in the wrong role. That’s why, in this week’s podcast episode, we’re diving into the real question behind it all: Who should you invest in? To help answer that question, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of it all, including: ✨What you shouldn’t hire someone to do (i.e. avoiding tasks you’d rather not do) ✨When you need a task taker vs. a decision maker ✨Who your first hire should be if you make less than $10K a month And more! Many hands make light work. The right hands build something new. Something that will stand the test of time for years to come! Tune in to see how your next hire can give you clarity AND keep your brand’s momentum—exactly as it should be! ✨ FREE TRAINING: Ready to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: ✨ WORK WITH MAUREEN: Ready to revolutionize your brand by mapping and mastering the brand growth levers your brand needs to get increased visibility, sales certainty and cash confidence? ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/30243828

#100: The 3 Building Blocks Required To Build A Legacy Brand With Maraya Brown 02/28/2024

#99 Q1 Sales Don't Have to Suck! Ditch the One-Size-Fits-All Trap (and Watch Your Profits Soar) 02/21/2024

#98: Make It Bigger: Transitioning To Product-Based Entrepreneurship With The CEO Of Necessary Nutrition 02/14/2024

#97 From Likes to Sales: Learn How To Turn Your Followers Into Sales 02/07/2024

#96: How to Align Your Brand, Business, and Marketing Strategies To Achieve Your eCommerce Annual Goal 01/31/2024

#96: How to Align Your Brand, Business, and Marketing Strategies To Achieve Your eCommerce Annual Goal So many entrepreneurs get scared of looking at their numbers. It’s frustrating, it’s disheartening, and it can even be paralyzing. If this sounds like you, then I have to ask you: . What if you could get excited to look at your numbers every month—BEFORE those major sales start to come in? What if looking at your numbers could feel you with hope, energy, and excitement? What if everything just stopped feeling like a slog and more like the start of something new? And now, you don’t have to do it alone! In this week’s podcast episode, we revisit session #3 of our Big Brand Academy to dive into how to use your numbers to reach those goals for your brand, including: ⭐The 4 Numbers you need to track so you can stop relying on push tactics (i.e. inflated marketing budgets, adding more influencers, etc) ⭐Demystifying the data dashboard (so you know what to look for) ⭐Walkthrough a simulation to help you see in real time how to maximize revenue, drive new growth, and defend against competition Crunching your numbers sounds painful. It can feel painful at first. But with practice—and a little guidance from yours truly—your numbers can empower you to make strategic decisions. Those decisions give the control back to you—where it belongs! ✨FREE MASTERCLASS: THE SECRET PSYCHOLOGY OF YOUR SHOPPER Learn How to Use The Secret Psychology of Shoppers to Get More Sales! Three Easy Ways to Get Customers to Start Picking Your Product instead of the Other Brand! ✨ FREE TRAINING: Ready to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: ✨ WORK WITH MAUREEN: Ready to revolutionize your brand by mapping and mastering the brand growth levers your brand needs to get increased visibility, sales certainty and cash confidence? ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/29724318

#95: How To Speak To Your Ideal Client 01/24/2024

#95: How To Speak To Your Ideal Client Have you ever tried to make friends as an adult? It kind of sucks! Things just seemed so much easier as a fourth grader. You shared your juice box, told each other your favorite animal (unicorns, duh) and then BAM, you were bonded for life. When did things get so complicated? It’s hard enough to make connections in your personal life, but the stakes are ramped up even more when your business is on the line. Now, you don’t want to make friends with just anyone. You wanna talk to your ideal client. The one who is right in the middle of the problem your product solves. The one that eats, sleeps, and breathes the lifestyle your product enables. The one who will rave to anyone who will listen about how everyone needs to try your product—because their life has been transformed overnight. Finding your ideal client is one thing. Speaking to them is a whole other ball game. So once you find them…how do you start the conversation? In this week’s podcast episode, we’re diving into: 👉How to see the world through your ideal client’s eyes 👉Crafting content that draws in the RIGHT audience 👉How to use social proof to back up your branding And more! One thing that becomes easier in adulthood is making the RIGHT kind of friends. Because YOU get to choose! So tune in to see how you can form some new and exciting connections for your brand—unicorns and all. ✨ FREE MASTERCLASS: THE SECRET PSYCHOLOGY OF SHOPPER Learn How to Use The Secret Psychology of Shoppers to Get More Sales! Three Easy Ways to Get Customers to Start Picking Your Product instead of the Other Brand! ✨ WORK WITH MAUREEN: Ready to revolutionize your brand by mapping and mastering the brand growth levers your brand needs to get increased visibility, sales certainty and cash confidence? ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/29619273

#94: Dreams Do Come True: From Inconsistent Sales To Consistent Daily Sales With CEO Of Glow Village 01/17/2024

#94: Dreams Do Come True: From Inconsistent Sales To Consistent Daily Sales With CEO Of Glow Village What would it take for a mother of three and registered nurse to transition into full-time entrepreneurship? Just ask my friend Maame! Maame is the founder of , a beauty brand for the wellness-conscious. She’s also a teacher, mother to three wonderful kiddos, and an RN to boot. When we met her, her brand was ten years in the making. And yet, she hadn’t gotten nearly as far as she had hoped. Over the past decade, she had started over and over again. She always threw herself in 100%. She had a passion for this that refused to quit. But no matter how much of a research rabbit hole she went down, or how much she invested into her products and marketing, the needle refused to move. Like many of my other clients, Maame really saw herself in my content, but wasn’t sure if she could make that leap yet. But after seeing her mindset shift from just listening to the podcast, she knew she had to give this a real shot: and the rest is history! In this week’s podcast episode, we talk about Maame’s brand journey, including: Owning her “small but mighty” business status and adopting imposter-syndrome-proof outlook Not just acting, but feeling like a CEO—to the point where she confidently turns down offers that don’t fit her business How echoing her brand messaging from the roots to the rafters helped her feel better in her own brand skin And more! Today, Maame glows with pride when she talks about her brand. In the past year, she estimates her growth at 300% (or more!) Not only that, but she even turned down a retailer’s offer—something she never would have imagined before she started with me—because she knew her business had way more to offer. Now, Maame doesn’t just have the passion—she has the means to do something about it. If what we share reasonates, give this episode a share and like, don't forget to leave us a review! ✨ FREE TRAINING: Ready to identify the One Growth Strategy You Need to Focus on First to Increase Sales Now? Watch the most recent training: ✨ WORK WITH MAUREEN: Ready to revolutionize your brand by mapping and mastering the brand growth levers your brand needs to get increased visibility, sales certainty and cash confidence? ✨ CONNECT WITH MAUREEN: 🖥 Website: 📷 Instagram: 📷 Youtube: /episode/index/show/startwardconsulting/id/29520383