She Busy

Ep 61: Made for This Moment: Leadership, Legacy, and Full-Life Ambition with Gillea Allison

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2187568/fan_mail/new] This week’s She Busy episode was a moment. We recorded live at the Plano Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division Summit 2025, and the energy in that room was electric with ambitious women leaning in as Gillea Allison, President of D Magazine Partners, dropped gem after gem on leadership, motherhood, and the messy, magical middle of it all. We talked about what it’s like to lead a legacy brand while raising tiny humans, how “action is the best antidote to anxiety,” and why women are uniquely positioned for the leadership era we’re living in. You’ll hear how Gillea found her own voice stepping into her father’s company, why she believes presence is a privilege, and how she protects her energy while running a powerhouse media group. If you’ve ever wondered how to build impact and keep your sanity, this one will feel like a warm hug and a pep talk rolled into one. Connect  with Gillea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilleaallison Follow D Magazine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d_magazine/ Keywords: leadership, women empowerment, D Magazine, community impact, work-life balance, anxiety management, marketing, media, motherhood, authenticity Thank you for listening to my show! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if you find this episode helpful. And if you're struggling with overwhelm in your business...  Download my FREE Delegation Blueprint! [https://assiamahmood.myflodesk.com/delegationblueprint] Visit My Website! [https://assiamahmood.com] Watch She Busy podcast episodes on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@Assia.Mahmood.Consulting] Follow Me on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/assia.mahmood/]

Ep 60: Finding Purpose in Pain: How Kerri Steele Built a Nonprofit for Kids in Grief

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2187568/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Assia sits down with Kerri Steele, founder of Little Hearts of Hope and the beloved “King Cake Lady of Frisco.” Kerri ’s entrepreneurial journey began after the devastating loss of her husband to cancer while raising three young children. Out of her own grief came a vision: to create accessible support for kids facing the emotional weight of a parent’s illness. Today, her nonprofit, Little Hearts of Hope, serves families in 38 states, offering children monthly creative expression activities that build resilience, emotional regulation, and hope. Kerri  opens up about: * Starting a nonprofit from scratch without business or therapy experience * Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship while honoring her mission * The unique funding challenges nonprofits face—and why staying true to her faith-based vision mattered more than compromise * How setting boundaries around heavy emotional work helped her avoid burnout * The role her children played in building the nonprofit and the values they gained along the way * Expanding Little Hearts of Hope through summer art camps that teach creativity as a coping tool * Her second business passion: running a thriving cottage bakery, specializing in authentic New Orleans king cakes loved by the Frisco community Connect with Kerri: * Website: www.littleheartsofhope.org  * Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/littleheartsofhope/ * LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/little-hearts-of-hope Ways to Get involved: * Prayer Team - https://littleheartsofhope.org/prayer-partner/ * Sponsor a Child - https://littleheartsofhope.org/donate/ * Donate - https://littleheartsofhope.org/donate/ * Event Sponsorships - contact kerri@littleheartsofhope.org for info on next event * Supply Drives - https://littleheartsofhope.org/how-to-help/ * Packing Parties - https://littleheartsofhope.org/how-to-help/ * Speaking engagements - https://littleheartsofhope.org/how-to-help/ * Serving on a committee or the board - https://littleheartsofhope.org/meet-the-board Thank you for listening to my show! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if you find this episode helpful. And if you're struggling with overwhelm in your business...  Download my FREE Delegation Blueprint! [https://assiamahmood.myflodesk.com/delegationblueprint] Visit My Website! [https://assiamahmood.com] Watch She Busy podcast episodes on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@Assia.Mahmood.Consulting] Follow Me on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/assia.mahmood/]

Ep 59: Identity, Grief & Motherhood: Navigating Business Growth Through Life Transitions

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2187568/fan_mail/new] Have you ever felt like your identity as a mom and your identity as a business owner were colliding—and you weren’t sure who you’d be on the other side? In this episode, Assia shares her journey of navigating identity, grief, and motherhood while running her business, Windhaven Academy. From buying a childcare center while pregnant to raising her children within its walls, Assia reflects on what it means when life and business evolve at the same time—and how to honor the grief that comes with closing one chapter while stepping into another. She opens up about the emotional impact of her son graduating from her school, the identity crisis that followed, and how she allowed herself the space to slow down, process, and reconnect with her purpose. If you’ve ever struggled with balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, or wondered how to let your business grow without losing yourself in it, this episode will speak to you. Tune in to hear: * What it’s really like to build a business while raising babies at the same time * Why sending her children to school outside of Windhaven sparked an unexpected identity shift * How grief and evolution show up in business transitions (and why both are valid) * The importance of creating a business that can run without you in every season * Practical wisdom for moms who want to grow as women and CEOs without burning out Thank you for listening to my show! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if you find this episode helpful. And if you're struggling with overwhelm in your business...  Download my FREE Delegation Blueprint! [https://assiamahmood.myflodesk.com/delegationblueprint] Visit My Website! [https://assiamahmood.com] Watch She Busy podcast episodes on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@Assia.Mahmood.Consulting] Follow Me on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/assia.mahmood/]

Ep 58: Website Mistakes That Cost You Clients (and How to Fix Them) with Stacy Aguilar

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2187568/fan_mail/new] What if your brand and website could do the heavy lifting for you—clarifying your message, boosting conversions, and helping you show up with confidence? In this episode of She Busy, host Assia Mahmood sits down with Stacy Aguilar, a brand and web designer, strategist, and design mentor who helps female founders elevate their online presence. Stacy shares practical tips for creating a brand and website that not only look beautiful but also strategically support your growth, visibility, and confidence as a business owner. You’ll hear: * Why your brand and website should work as hard as you do * The most common mistakes entrepreneurs make with their websites (and how to fix them) * Simple design principles—like spacing, contrast, and hierarchy—that instantly level up DIY graphics * How Canva’s brand kit and templates can make consistency easy * Quick, high-impact website tweaks that improve user experience and conversions * How branding impacts your confidence and helps you show up as the expert you already are * Stacy’s personal journey balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and building a business that supports her family * The inspiration behind her new course, The Good Design Method, a DIY program to help entrepreneurs master design basics and elevate their branding Connect with Stacy: Website: www.stacyeaguilar.com IG: www.instagram.com/stacyeaguilar  Thank you for listening to my show! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if you find this episode helpful. And if you're struggling with overwhelm in your business...  Download my FREE Delegation Blueprint! [https://assiamahmood.myflodesk.com/delegationblueprint] Visit My Website! [https://assiamahmood.com] Watch She Busy podcast episodes on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@Assia.Mahmood.Consulting] Follow Me on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/assia.mahmood/]

Ep 57: From Trapped CEO to True Leader: The Real Reason You’re Still Stuck in the Day-to-Day

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2187568/fan_mail/new] What if the reason you still feel stuck in your business isn't because your team can't handle it—but because you’ve never actually said no? In this episode, Assia gets real about the illusion of freedom so many women founders fall into. She shares how her business had grown, her team was in place, and yet—she kept getting pulled back into the same role she had worked so hard to escape. Why? Because she never gave herself permission to stop. If you’ve built the business, hired the people, and still feel like the default safety net for everything…this episode is your permission slip to step into your rightful role as the visionary leader. Tune in to hear: * The silent guilt that keeps women leaders stuck in roles they’ve outgrown * Why “freedom” in business often feels like a moving target * The surprising reason your team might still expect you to jump in * The identity shift that happens when you say "no" without an excuse * How to reclaim your time, your leadership, and your next-level vision Thank you for listening to my show! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review if you find this episode helpful. And if you're struggling with overwhelm in your business...  Download my FREE Delegation Blueprint! [https://assiamahmood.myflodesk.com/delegationblueprint] Visit My Website! [https://assiamahmood.com] Watch She Busy podcast episodes on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@Assia.Mahmood.Consulting] Follow Me on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/assia.mahmood/]