In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Valarie Sandjivy, founder of EllipsUS. As a seasoned leadership mentor and business coach with over 20 years of experience guiding leaders through growth and change, she empowers today’s leaders to lead themselves and others with empathy, agility, and fresh thinking. Valarie believes that true leadership starts within - because you can't lead others until you know how to lead yourself. Somewhere along the way, we were taught that focusing on ourselves is selfish, but the opposite is true. Self-awareness is strength, and asking for support is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.

Valarie Sandjivy is an adaptive leadership mentor and business coach with over 20 years of experience. She combines her corporate expertise with a creative, intuitive approach to leadership, helping clients build scalable systems while fostering personal and professional transformation. With a deep commitment to evolving leadership and empowering others, Valarie inspires lasting and meaningful change in both business and life.

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MORE ABOUT VALARIE SANDJIVY:
LinkedIn: Valarie Sandjivy
Website: EllipsUS
Blog: EllipsUS Blog

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Melissa Franks, founder of On Call COO, a fractional COO company. Melissa talks about her journey from corporate executive to entrepreneur and how aligning business goals with personal vision is key to sustainable success. She suggests that when looking to make a career pivot, you should ask yourself: 1) What does my life need to look like right now? 2) What does the next year need to look like? 3) What will my life look like once my goals are achieved.

Melissa doesn’t believe in waiting for the right opportunity. She believes in creating it, and part of that comes from knowing how influence really works. If there’s a decision you’re trying to move forward at work, find out who’s influencing the decision-maker. That’s where your relationship-building should start.

As a Fractional COO, Melissa provides part-time operational leadership and expertise. In 2022, she left corporate life with a mission to support small businesses with pragmatic approaches to unique problems and a healthy dose of optimism that all businesses can be successful with the right people, doing the right things at the right time.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, hit like, and leave a comment—we’d love to hear your thoughts!

MORE ABOUT MELISSA FRANKS:
LinkedIn: Melissa Franks
Website: Melissa Franks

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Jensen Savage, founder of Savage Growth Partners, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to start your own business. From embracing fear to finding your niche, Jensen shares her journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way. They talk about the entrepreneurial spirit, the power of carving your own path, and why waiting until you're "ready" might hold you back. Jensen’s advice? Do it scared—because clarity often comes from action, not perfection.

As the founder of Savage Growth Partners, Jensen has led marketing campaigns that have driven tens of millions in revenue across industries. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, Wired, and Inc., and she’s recognized for her hands-on leadership, strategic insights, and results-driven approach.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, hit like, and leave a comment—we’d love to hear your thoughts!

MORE ABOUT JENSEN SAVAGE:
LinkedIn: Jensen Savage
Website: Savage Growth Partners

ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS:
Website - Sweet but Fearless
LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless