Leap, Land, and Build: Marilu’s Journey from New Canadian to Successful Entrepreneur

S2 Ep2 How to Build a Brand That Actually Supports You (with Christine Lieu-Guzauskas)

In this episode of The GrowthShifters Podcast, I sit down with brand designer and founder of CL Designs, Christine Lieu-Guzauskas, to talk about what it really takes to build a brand that reflects who you are and supports the life you’re living. Christine is the creative force behind the GrowthShifters brand and website, and in this conversation, she shares how she approaches client experience, why strong processes matter, and how thoughtful design can help you step into a new level of clarity and leadership. This episode also comes with a layer of real-time reflection. After releasing Episode 1 of this season, I noticed myself slipping into major avoidance around promotion and follow-through. Rather than ignoring it, I took it as data and an opportunity to refine how I build, not just what I build. Sustainable growth is about awareness, adjustment, and continuing forward.  What We Talk About: - Building a brand that reflects your current identity - Designing a client experience that feels structured, supportive, and human - Why strong processes reduce overwhelm instead of creating rigidity - Letting go of “doing everything yourself” as your business evolves - Marketing as relationship-building - The role of capacity in maintaining consistency - Christine’s recommendation: The Having and its impact on wealth mindset Featured Guest: Christine Lieu-Guzauskas Founder, CL Designs Host of The Brand Party Podcast Christine helps purpose-driven businesses bring their brands to life through thoughtful design, strategic clarity, and deeply human client experiences. Christine’s Website: https://www.christineldesigns.com/ The Brand Party Podcast: https://www.christineldesigns.com/podcast Book Recommendation: The Having [https://suhyoonlee.com/the-having/] by Suh Yoon Lee & Jooyun Hong This book explores a different way of thinking about wealth across all areas of life. It focuses on cultivating a sense of “having” rather than striving, and the internal shifts that create external change. This has been one of the most impactful mindset resources I’ve encountered, and I’m currently going through it for a third time!!

S2 Ep 1 How I Broke My Podcast (And Rebuilt It for Real Life)

I broke my podcast. Not because the interviews weren’t good. They were fantastic, and I cared a lot about the show, but I had no runway for real life. In this Season 2 opener, I’m sharing what actually went wrong behind the scenes in GrowthShifters 1.0, why my production system had zero margins, and what I’m changing so the podcast can be consistent, sustainable, and genuinely fun again. If you’re building something ambitious, I hope this saves you a whole lot of burnout. I'll walk you through the biggest shifts I’m making, including: - Shortening the show so it’s easier to publish and easier to listen to - Reducing friction for guests by simplifying the booking and recording process - Letting go of over-preparation so the conversations feel natural and alive - Investing strategically to elevate the show without blowing up the budget - Simplifying calls to action so the end of each episode stays useful, not overwhelming BONUS: Christine’s Podcast Tips! To close out the episode, I bring in my web designer, Christine Lieu-Guzauskas, to share her top tips for podcasting success. (And yes, I’m taking her last one to heart, which is to have fun!) LINKS: Christine Lieu-Guzauskas Web designer and host of The Brand Party Podcast Website: https://www.christineldesigns.com/ Fina Charleson Intro/Outro producer for GrowthShifters Podcast Season 2 Website: https://www.finacharleson.com/ Season 1: Catch Up on Previous Guests If you’re new here, you can also check out GrowthShifters 1.0. Here are links to past episodes and guests: - Family and Community with Wendal Yoder [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4AdcntucJvFjg9fGzGxOGD?si=4xjJQM16QaCfPBC5Ob5kDA] - Creativity and Courage with Emily Gillis [https://open.spotify.com/episode/56sKV6E4CVYy0ryjrrhhw6?si=JyAL5n_USkSNMFY7XadFzg] - Service and Growth with Kevin Yu [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MyOvgdqbOe2wCdRHkyMzC?si=WjHfx-1_S0-0T-9GXVO9TQ] - Leap, Land, and Build: Marilù's Journey from New Canadian to Successful Entrepreneur [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2m7BxL6EBfjvbqFitNxOp6?si=1F0aBmknR8SwapnDWWsuNw] - Compassion is a Superpower with Elizabeth Keiper-Aguirre [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3H86gIUC4OTwHp0kwjApiP?si=7giZzz5OTfSoWZ5hl40iyw] - Rewiring the Mind with Nikita May: Healing, Neuroplasticity, and Resilience [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5KKDcCTS1krOkjlaYXDYEV?si=3zyfuj_CTFif3hsIKTPGzw] FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE:  If this episode resonates, I’d love it if you would subscribe, share it with a friend who’s building something big, and come say hi. Website: https://www.growthshifters.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthshifters/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growthshifters

Ep 7 - Ep 7 - Rewiring the Mind with Nikita May: Healing, Neuroplasticity, and Resilience

In this episode of The GrowthShifters Podcast, I sit down with Nikita May, an incredibly insightful doula, hypnotherapist, and coach, to explore the transformative power of neuroplasticity, timeline therapy, and emotional healing. Nikita shares her journey from supporting families in postpartum care to guiding individuals through trauma, anxiety, and life’s toughest transitions. We talk about: - How becoming a doula revealed the hidden emotional struggles of new parents - The power of hypnotherapy, timeline therapy, and tapping to rewire the brain - Why resilience isn’t about avoiding feelings but learning to move through them - How to create supportive boundaries in relationships and navigate conflict with compassion - The role of partners in postpartum mental health Whether you’re navigating a season of change or seeking tools for emotional resilience, this conversation is full of grounded wisdom and hope.

Ep 6 - Compassion is a Superpower, with Elizabeth Keiper-Aguirre

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and accountability partner, Elizabeth Keiper-Aguirre, to talk about why compassion is a superpower. Elizabeth shares her journey as a business owner, mom, and wellness coach, and explains how practising self-compassion changed everything. What you’ll learn: * How to stop spiralling and lead with calm * Why “bare minimum effort, maximum impact” is the key to sustainable change * A new way to understand compassion as empathy in action * Her 3-2-1: people, books, and one action step you can start today Connect with Elizabeth at https://www.lifepurposely.com/

Leap, Land, and Build: Marilu’s Journey from New Canadian to Successful Entrepreneur

In this episode of The GrowthShifters Podcast, I sit down with Marilù Ciabattoni to talk about what it means to choose the hard thing, even when it’s scary. From leaving Italy for Canada with no job, to losing her sponsorship after finally securing residency, and saying no to a safe job to building a business from scratch, Marilù’s story is about betting on herself when everything counted. We talk about: * The real story behind Marilù’s immigration leap * How being laid off led her to entrepreneurship success * The power of building a team before you're ready * Finding community as a newcomer, whether it's to a new city or country * Choosing freedom over comfort Whether you’re starting a business or starting over in life, this episode is a permission slip to leap, especially when net hasn’t appeared yet. Connect with Marilu at https://gingerbrandhaus.com [https://gingerbrandhaus.com] and on IG, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and X at @gingerbrandhaus