On this Adventures in Business minisode, Mandi is fresh off a retreat in Atlanta, and she’s got wisdom to share. She attended Jesse Itzler’s Built to Speak Retreat – an event that was two and a half days, 26 people, six coaches, and a deep dive into something every business owner needs: better communication. Not just on stage, but in leadership, sales, team meetings, and everyday conversations. Here are the takeaways that stood out for her. Big Takeaways from Jesse Itzler’s B

On this episode of  Adventures in Business,  Amani and Mandi sit down with Andrea Steinbrenner, CEO of Exit Consulting Group, to chat about exit strategy for businesses. While most people focus on the financial side of exiting, Andrea makes it clear: there’s much more to a successful exit, and it doesn’t have to be scary. Andrea shares why every business should be exit planning at all times, her Canopy Method, and the one piece of advice she’d give her younger self. Whether y

In this fun, fast-paced mini episode, Amani and Mandi go back and forth sharing their aspirational podcast guests. From Kendra Scott to Kelly Clarkson, these guests all spark bigger conversations about business, branding, and courage.  Mandi’s Dream Guests Kendra Scott Mandi kicks it off with jewelry mogul and author Kendra Scott. There’s a personal connection here – Midwest roots, birthday traditions, and that iconic Born to Shine mindset. Mandi loves how Kendra blends asser

When you’ve been in the event production and technology business for the past 35 years, you’ve seen every tech shift imaginable – and learned a few lessons along the way. This week on Adventures in Business, Amani and Mandi are joined by Jonathan Martin, Founder of ShowTec, a production company that puts on impactful events worldwide. He shares what has made ShowTec successful through the years, what future he sees for his industry with AI, and what advice he has for students

If you’ve ever made big New Year’s goals only to forget about them by mid-January, this minisode is for you. In this fun mini episode of Adventures in Business,  we dive into a creative, surprisingly effective way to approach goal-setting: turning your goals into a 2026 bingo card. Why a 2026 Bingo Card? Instead of a long, overwhelming list of goals, choose a handful of personal and professional goals and lay them out visually in a bingo-style grid. Each square represents som

We’ve got a return guest today on Adventures in Business: Dr. Alessandra Wall, an executive coach, speaker, author, psychologist, and thought partner to powerful women, joins Mandi and Amani again to discuss owning your agency and crafting the life you want.  Dr. Alessandra Wall is the founder of Noteworthy and a “recovering psychologist.” Meaning, being a psychologist trained her to be careful, gentle, and methodical. But in advisory and leadership work, that approach can ge

Have you ever found yourself in burnout? Or maybe you’ve spent every day just going through the motions, until you finally asked yourself, Is this really what I want in life? Today’s guest on Adventures in Business is well acquainted with the feeling, and she’s an expert in helping people break out of it. Read on for advice from author, speaker, and coach Hema Crockett, as she shares how she helps women break free from burnout and default living.  Hema Crockett’s Definition o

We’re kicking off the new year with a fun minisode all about our personal and professional goals! In this mini episode of Adventures in Business, we share our goal setting process, our words of the year, and what big things are in store for us (and for the podcast). Read on and get inspired to get started on your own 2026 goals! How We Set Our 2026 Goals Before diving into the goals themselves, let’s talk about how we approach goal setting. Amani keeps it simple with three pe

What if you could take your business from boring to amazing with better branding? In this episode of Adventures in Business, Amani and Mandi hear from Richard Liverman, founder of Richer Solutions, brand coach, strategy consultant, and mentor to neurodivergent business owners. Joining the show from the UK, Richard brings humor, honesty, and a refreshing perspective on branding, creativity, and what it really means to help businesses be more amazing. How Richer Solutions Helps

We’re welcoming back Jenny Perin to Adventures in Business !   Amani calls her “the queen of planning” and “the queen of goals,” and we know you love her because her last episode ranked in the top three out of 230+ episodes. Jenny is the founder of Shift Life Health Coaching, and she’s here to talk to us about meal planning strategy, how to read labels like a pro, and the food hacks you didn’t know you needed. Why Planning Your Food Matters Jenny kicks things off by addressin

It’s time again for one of the best Adventures in Business traditions of the year… Ins and Outs! In this minisode, Amani and Mandi sit down to share their Ins and Outs for 2026: what they’re intentionally bringing into their lives and businesses next year, and what they’re officially leaving behind.  If you’ve never done an Ins and Outs list before, think of it as a clarity exercise for the year ahead. Ins are the habits, practices, and priorities you want more of. Outs are t

Gratitude often gets framed as something we should  do — another habit to keep up with, another mindset to master. But what if gratitude could be quieter than that? More honest. More human. In this minisode, Amani and Mandi have a reflective conversation about gratitude, growth, and the realities that shape us — especially during difficult seasons. At the center of the conversation is Mandi’s long-standing “Ceremony of Thorns,” a reflective practice that invites us to acknowl

We’re welcoming back a familiar face under a new company name: Chris Riccardi, Senior Vice President of Global Sales Strategy for Peregrine Hospitality (formerly known as KSL Resorts). From rebranding and expansion to motivating sales teams in a tough market, this conversation covered a lot of ground. Meet Chris Riccardi Chris oversees all strategic sales efforts for Peregrine Hospitality’s growing portfolio of world-class destinations and leads the global sales team. Over a

Bill Kilburg has spent decades building relationships across the hospitality industry—but his approach has always been about more than transactions or titles. In this conversation, Bill joins Amani Roberts and Mandi Graziano to reflect on the moments that shaped his leadership style, from carrying luggage in 118-degree heat to building and scaling Hospitality Performance Network Global. What makes this episode resonate is its grounding in real experience: lessons learned earl

Gratitude is one of those things most of us know is good for us, and yet it’s often the first practice to slip when life gets busy, stressful, or overwhelming. In this minisode, Amani and Mandi sit down for an honest, unscripted check-in about gratitude: what it looks like when it’s working, what happens when it falls off, and why perspective matters more than perfection. This isn’t a how-to or a framework-heavy conversation. It’s two people reflecting in real time on stress,

On this episode of Adventures in Business, Amani and Mandi welcome Veronica Rivera, Karen Strgacich, and Suzy Kay — the powerhouse trio behind the California DMO Alliance. Together, they’re rewriting the rules of what it means to compete, connect, and collaborate across California’s travel and meetings landscape. Formed in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, the Alliance began as a handful of destination marketing professionals simply trying to make sense of new restrictions and

Ever heard someone described as a little too confident — “a bit of a Fig Jam”? For Danielle Sweeney, that cheeky Australian phrase has become a mantra. In this week’s episode, Amani and Mandi sit down with the Toronto-based founder of Keynote Direct to talk about embracing your achievements, building confidence, and reinventing your career — one bold leap at a time. Danielle’s career spans continents and industries. From goldsmithing in Australia to calligraphy for Chanel, an

From the Kitchen to the Camera Chef Emily Brubaker never planned to become a celebrity chef. She originally pursued art and computer animation, but found her creative outlet in the kitchen where color, texture, and flavor became her tools. After years in fine dining and a few years devoted to motherhood, she returned to the culinary world and took home the top prize on "Yes, Chef!". What mattered most to her was not the win itself, but the transformation that came with it. Th

Looking Back at Launch Week When Sales Tales  launched in October 2021, Mandi was in the thick of pandemic pivots, moving contracts, and navigating the changing business landscape. Though she’d finished the book in 2019, the world had other plans. She delayed her search for a publisher, eventually signing with one in 2021, and then quickly moved into promotion mode. She launched the paperback, hardcover, and Kindle editions all at once. But instead of bundling the audiobook w

From Derby Doll to Business Owner Nili Goldfarb never set out to run a roller rink. Her journey began on the track as a roller derby athlete who loved the energy, competition, and camaraderie of the sport. Over time, she moved from player to manager, taking on leadership roles that taught her how to organize events, build teams, and cultivate belonging within a growing community. As she transitioned from skater to general manager, she learned to balance her love for the game