Inside Source

Dr. Wendy Lewis of The Winning Smile Dental Group is the definition of "goal-getter." Not only did she accomplish her childhood dream of being a dentist, but she also added the title of business woman to her resume as well. Inside Source visits with Dr. Lewis to discuss finding a career you love, navigating a pandemic, and striking a balance between her roles as a wife and mom, a woman in medicine, and a business owner.

Inside Source points the mic at our producer Casey Combest for this episode about podcasting and why it's valuable to a brand or business. Casey answers our questions about cutting through the noise, building brand loyalty, and why this form of media is a good investment for your business.

Cindy Ayers-Elliott left the Big Apple and the fast-paced world of investment banking for another type of investment: in an urban farm in Jackson, Mississippi called Foot Print Farms. Inside Source sits down with her to discuss cooperative farming, her mind for business and education, and feeding her community – literally and figuratively.

Lauren Ann Cooper was in her mid-twenties when she opened her first L.A. Green and has since watched it grow to three locations and online, growing a loyal fan base of women who keep coming to her for not only beautiful clothing, but for outstanding service. She talks to Inside Source about being underestimated, why she considers retail a service industry, and learning from both failures and successes.

Nashville-based The Callaway is a communications agency whose specialty is making small businesses big and big businesses small. This kind of creative, forward thinking is a product of CEO Libby Callaway, a former fashion editor and journalist who brings her style-focused approach to her wide range of clients. She visited with Inside Source to discuss her experiences with pivoting with purpose, curation and collaboration, and leading an all-women team.

Many of our listeners either own or would like to own a Kelly Wynne handbag, but do you know the woman behind the brand? Kelly Wynne Ferguson started out in PR and has watched her business grow from just a dream to something we recognize on the street. Inside Source asked her about identifying opportunities, the evolution of her brand, and her passion for empowering other women.

Chef, author, and Today Show Food Contributor Elizabeth Heiskell has had many unbelievable moments in her career, but what her viewers and readers don’t see are the years of hard work to get there. Inside Source talked to Elizabeth about finding your passion, becoming an “overnight success,” and the legacy she hopes to leave her daughters.

Blogger Brandí Starbuck moved from North Carolina to Mississippi and within one year created a network of hundreds of friends and business associates – all using social media. She shares with Inside Source her tips for creating a “high touch” network, being intentional with connections, and keeping posts positive.

Our personal and professional lives are a series of forks in roads, creating interesting and often non-traditional career paths. Two-time author, blogger, interior designer, and photographer Erin Austen Abbott talks to Inside Source about identifying opportunities, walking through open doors, and why what’s best for you is best for your business.

What do Maya Angelou, Meryl Streep, and Michelle Obama have in common? They have all struggled with feelings of imposter syndrome, or feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt that persist despite success. Tara Mills, a Licensed Professional Counselor with The Shepherd’s Staff, talks with Inside Source about where this phenomenon comes from, the consequences of it, and how we can overcome.

Every career path looks different, despite what society tells us. Technology marketer and small business blogger Laura Johns of The Small Town Creative walks us through her own road less traveled and answers our questions about going with your gut, opportunities out of left field, and advice she’d give her younger self.

Creative entrepreneur and The Source Advisory Panel Member, Kristen Ley, is a master at vision realization and reinvention. She shared with Inside Source her tips for making decisions about her business, the importance of self-reflection, and advice for women who are contemplating a career change.

We take a look at the ins and outs of female leadership with professional speaker and self-described "personal development junkie" Darienne Mobley. She shares with Inside Source about the unique leadership skills of women, supporting one another out of and in the office, and what it means to establish your own personal “board of directors.”

Albine Bennett, Director of Communications for CREATE Foundation and master networker, talks to Inside Source about making the most of networking opportunities, utilizing connections to help others, and her favorite tip for when you have to attend an event solo. 

Working women are pros at putting everyone else before themselves. Germaine Benoit, Certified Health Coach and the woman behind Nourished and Empowered, talks with Inside Source about building blocks of good nutrition, fostering wellness in the workplace, and easy changes professional women can make to improve our overall health.

An owner of multiple small businesses, Sarah Smythe shares with Inside Source her wisdom and experience with pricing strategy, cultivating a clientele, and creating long-term value in her businesses.

Storytelling isn’t just part of your marketing strategy; it IS your strategy. Amanda Wells, President of Wells & Co., answers our questions about being the face of your own brand, big-picture marketing, and why perfection shouldn’t be your number one goal.

Laurel Donahoo (The Hive Blog) and Meagan Adams (Twenty-Two Lane) sit down with Inside Source to pull back the curtain on brand continuity, social media presence, and how to grow your following the right way.

Holly Lange, professional event planner, fundraiser extraordinaire, and Director of the Mississippi Book Festival, talks to Inside Source about courage in the face of anxiety, evaluating commitments, and the power of “no.”

Inside Source sits down with Kassi Rushing, Director of People Growth and Engagement with HORNE LLP, to learn about sponsors in the workplace, how to find one, and how to be one.