A second season begins today of the LiSTNR podcast Secrets Of A Self-Starter, with Mim Rizvi, allowing listeners behind the closed doors of the Accelerator for Enterprising Women Kickstarter Challenge, where self-starters are inspired by industry experts to turn their passions into a profession.
A 2024 Kickstarter Challenge has launched the second season of the podcast, giving five women the opportunity to pitch their new business idea for the chance to secure a share of $60,000 in equity-free funding and to build the skills and support required to run their own businesses and transform the industries in which they work.
Rizvi will speak to Steph Claire Smith from the successful KIC wellness empire; Hailey Brown, who founded Vacayit in 2020, the world’s first audio tourism platform for the blind and low-vision community; Doug English, founder and CTO of the global employee experience platform, Culture Amp; Sara Bell, CEO and Founder of RIISE global marketplace and editorial platform, and LVLY gifting service co-founder Verity Tuck. Receiving this mentorship are the 2023 Kickstarter Challenge finalists, including Liz Lea, who developed the audio description service and app ShowGO; Danielle Arrebola, founder of Employi, a workplace appreciation platform; Acegirl co-founder Desiree D’Cruz, a femtech and medtech company on a mission to elevate the experiences of women returning to work after becoming new mothers; Esther Oh the entrepreneur behind Agili8’s telehealth smart glasses and Grand Final winner Alex Cannizzaro, founder of Australia’s leading edge platform in waste reduction, Platform Zero.
Rizvi, said:
“The episodes offer a peek behind the curtain at what it really takes to be successful. Steph Claire Smith, for example, opens up about the struggles that she faced with imposter syndrome despite a confident self-portrayal and speaks to the challenges that many could face when creating a business in the digital age. We’re pleased to be partnering with LiSTNR again to give women the opportunity to hear leading advice from successful business owners in their fields.”
LiSTNR Senior Executive Producer Branded Podcasts, Todd Stevens, said:
“Any new businessperson wants to learn from the best but without the right connections it can be near impossible to get quality time with someone who is at the top of their game. This podcast breaks those barriers and gives listeners a chance to learn from these highly successful self-starters as they mentor businesswomen looking to forge their own path.
One of the previous Kickstarter finalists, Hailey Brown, last season learnt from the incredible Janine Allis how to take her business to the next level. In this new season, Hailey joins us again having graduated to being a mentor, to speak on the growth of Vacayit following season one and to share her learnings with ShowGO’s Liz Lea.”
Secrets Of A Self-Starter will have five episodes in season two, released fortnightly on Wednesdays.