Ellie Anne Dote is founder and owner of EllieGirl Creations, a marketing firm in Fresno, California that specializes in helping small business owners understand their identity as the basis for their entire marketing campaign. With over 25 years of experience in the graphic design industry and 10 years in the website design industry, Ellie uses her design expertise to create powerful user experiences for her clients and their prospective customers. She works with folks all over the country, and by the end of our conversation today, you can learn how to get in touch with her.

Jax Wheatley is the Chief Financial Officer Every Small Business Owner Needs. With over 18 years running their own business, Rainbow Tax & Accounting, Jax loves providing quality, affordable accounting services to individuals, small business, and non-profit organization. When not busy running their own business, Jax dedicates their free time expanding economic opportunities serving as the board treasurer for PABA, Portland’s LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce.

Lisa Snyder is a Portland-based feminist, the Founder and Co-Creator of Tokeativity, a Cannabis Community for Women, and the owner of Elle*Eye Web Design Consulting. With nearly two decades of entrepreneurial experience, she continues to be recognized for her work in Time Out New York, Go Magazine, Oregon Leaf, PUSH Magazine, CannabisTours.com, Stoner Magazine, The Weed Blog, and Splimm.com, among many others.

Christof is the Founder and CEO at Hornet Networks, the world’s premiere gay social network. Founded in 2011 with the mission to provide gay men the opportunity for meaningful connections, Hornet has grown to 25 million total users, creating a community that comes together around shared experience and common interests. Christoff identifies as a serial software entrepreneur & investor, he serves as the President of the LGBT Foundation, and he lives with his partner of 21 years, Juan, in San Francisco.

Alyssa Emerson is the Founder of Come Along, a travel agency for people ready to move beyond their comfort zones, and experience the things in life they’ve always wanted (but maybe were too scared to do alone). Alyssa believes the world would be a much better - and happier - place if more people travelled, experienced different cultures, and reconnected with their younger selves. Her company helps her actualize this belief every day.

Katie Lane is an attorney and negotiation coach who helps creators protect their rights and get paid fairly for their work. Her clients include comics creators, game designers, authors, illustrators, and musicians. Basically, if you make stuff, you’re Katie’s kind of client. Her loves include teaching people how to negotiate, reading contracts with a red pen, bow ties, and Star Trek.

Norma Jeanne Maloney is the founder of Red Rider Studios, where she hones her skills as a sign painter and muralist. With three decades of painting experience, she works closely with clients from small brick and mortar stores to tech titans like FaceBook. Norma Jean started her business when it seemed like everyone else had quit. Hand painted everything is what allows her business to offer a unique service for her clients. Today she has one of the most successful sign painting studios in the country, where she leads an industry now in a renaissance.

Jessica Pettitt, M.Ed., CSP, pulls together her stand-up comedy years with 15+ years of diversity training's in a wide range of organizations to serve groups to move from abstract fears to actionable habits that lead teams to want to work together. With a sense of belonging and understanding, colleagues take more risks with their ideation, conserve precious resources through collaboration, and maintain real connections with clients over time.

Bernadette Smith is the Founder and President of the Equality Institute, and an award-winning author of three books. She’s a long-time friend of the show, and kicked off the very first episode of The Out Entrepreneur. On today’s show, you have the opportunity to learn from a seasoned entrepreneur who shares some of the challenges and blessings of being your own boss. If you’ve ever thought about taking the entrepreneurial leap, start here, start out, and stay true to being your authentic self 100% of the time!