F5 Collective Presents Women in Business

A Ramp, A Rail, an Arts Program: Building a Nonprofit Reaching 100,000 People | Nan Young, Art Trek

In 1990, Nan Young was told her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter — who has cerebral palsy — couldn't attend the same elementary school as her brother. The school wasn't accessible. There was no ADA. So Nan made a deal: an arts program in exchange for a ramp and a rail. The principal agreed. Her daughter became the first physically disabled child to attend a public school in the Conejo Valley Unified School District. That handshake deal is the seed of Art Trek, the nonprofit Nan now runs as Executive Director — a 115+ person organization working in over 100 schools from Long Beach to Santa Barbara, reaching roughly 100,000 people a year. In 2024, Nan was named Woman of the Year. In this episode of F5 Collective Presents: Women in Business, Nan shares: ✨ The ramp-and-rail story that started everything ✨ Going from "we made money this year!" to "...but how much did it cost us?" ✨ Growing a dining-room project into a community-anchor nonprofit ✨ The "inner spark" she hires for — and why skills come second ✨ Manage daily. Look long term. Both. Always. ✨ "Be frugal, but never cheap" — especially with your staff ✨ From sapling to mighty oak: how deep roots survive droughts ✨ Why every art class teaches life skills, not just drawing ✨ Why Art Trek says yes to (almost) everything ✨ Partnership over competition: how she works with other nonprofits ✨ "Keep yourself humble, keep yourself hungry, keep yourself smart" Whether you're a nonprofit founder, a creative entrepreneur, or anyone who has ever had to ask for what you need with nothing but a good idea to trade, Nan's story is a masterclass in patient, principled growth. About Nan Young: Nan Young is the Executive Director of Art Trek Inc., an independent, hands-on, not-for-profit arts organization bringing visual, literary, and performing arts to communities across Southern California. Named Woman of the Year in 2024, Nan has spent over three decades building Art Trek from a PTA program in her dining room into a regional powerhouse serving over 100 schools and 100,000 people annually. 🎨 Learn more at https://www.arttrek.org/ [https://www.arttrek.org/] The growth engine for women who mean business. http://www.f5collective.com [http://www.f5collective.com] 0:00 Opening: Art Is More Than What's on the Surface 0:37 Welcome & Introduction 0:53 What Makes a Nonprofit 4:13 The Origin: Art Trek Started in My Dining Room 5:36 A Ramp and a Rail: The 1990 Handshake Deal 6:26 Her Daughter, a Pioneer in Public School 8:22 Becoming a 501(c)(3) in 2006 9:36 "How Much Did It Cost Us?" Learning the Business 10:35 Camp Counselor, Theater Director, Teacher 15:44 Why Art Is More Than the Activity 16:35 Building the Team: Staff and Volunteers 17:02 100+ Schools, 115+ People 20:23 Why the Arts Matter for Everyone 22:01 Creative Moments: A Necessity, Not a Luxury 23:54 Working With Engineers, Scientists & Youth in Detention 26:51 Reaching 100,000 People a Year 28:43 Saying Yes to Everything 31:53 $5 Fridays and Community Events 34:33 The Power of Partnerships 36:30 Youth, Government & Nonprofit Collaboration 37:40 Does She Still Make Her Own Art? 40:17 Every Art Project Starts With a Blank Page 41:45 What's Next: Theater, Writing, Performance 43:47 From Sapling to Mighty Oak 45:17 On AI: Useful Tool, But Not in the Classroom 50:02 Business Advice: Communication, Long View, Daily Management 50:49 Be Frugal, But Never Cheap 52:07 Rapid Five Q&A 54:21 Closing Thanks

Who Am I? The Linen Store Moment That Changed Everything | Iona Morris Jackson, Actor/Director

Iona Morris-Jackson is an actor, director, producer, and host of The Vision is Possible. She's spent decades in entertainment, but the most transformative moment didn't happen on set—it happened in a linen store. "Who am I? Not what mommy wants, daddy wants, what my friends want—but what do I want? And it just changed everything for me in that moment." In this episode, Iona shares: ✨ The linen store epiphany: "Who am I?" ✨ "You are your brand" - actors as entrepreneurs ✨ You are your own startup ✨ Growing up in a family of performers ✨ Starting as a voiceover artist ✨ The business of being an actor ✨ Directing vs. acting: different muscles ✨ The Vision is Possible: her platform for creative entrepreneurs ✨ Rejection and resilience in the entertainment industry ✨ Finding your voice as an actor ✨ The difference between theater and film/TV ✨ You are the CEO of your own company ✨ Creating work when the work isn't coming to you Whether you're in entertainment, creative entrepreneurship, or searching for "who am I?", Iona's story proves that knowing yourself is the foundation of building your brand. About Iona Morris-Jackson: Iona Morris-Jackson is an actor, director, producer, mentor, coach, and host of The Vision is Possible. From voiceover artist to theater to film and TV, Iona has built a career on knowing who she is and helping others do the same. 🎭 Learn more at https://thevisionispossible.com/ [https://thevisionispossible.com/] The growth engine for women who mean business. http://www.f5collective.com [http://www.f5collective.com] 0:00 Opening: Who Am I? The Linen Store Moment 0:54 Introduction: Actor, Director, Producer 1:15 Coaching & Mentoring Actors 1:36 You Are Your Own Startup 2:51 Going Back to Poetry 3:32 Starting as a Voiceover Artist 5:00 Growing Up in a Family of Performers 5:53 The Vision is Possible 7:00 Finding My Voice 8:55 I Have to Act Again 9:46 You Are Your Brand 11:00 The Business of Being an Actor 13:00 CEO of Your Own Company 15:00 Auditioning & Rejection 17:00 Building Resilience 19:00 Directing: Different Muscles 21:00 Working with Actors as a Director 22:36 Marriage & Partnership 25:00 Creating Your Own Work 28:00 The Industry Evolution 30:00 Theater Roots 33:00 Voice Acting Craft 36:00 Self-Discovery Journey 39:00 Knowing Your Worth 42:00 Producing Projects 45:00 Mentoring the Next Generation 48:00 Booking the Job 50:00 Theater vs Film/TV 53:00 The Hustle of Show Business 55:00 Faith & Perseverance 58:00 Advice for Creative Entrepreneurs 1:00:00 Rapid Five Q&A

I Made the Leap with Arrogance—Then Microsoft Started Layoffs | Symone Opara, LeCuckoo

Symone Opara was a Principal Director in Engineering at Microsoft with 11 directors reporting to her across the world. She had five kids, a demanding job, and wanted to cook from-scratch meals every night. "How do I work for Microsoft and we don't have a technical solution for this?" So she and her husband built LeCuckoo—a platform for home cooks to share recipes and get paid. Then she made the leap: "I left with arrogance—'if I want to come back, I can always come back.' Then Microsoft started doing all its layoffs." In this episode, Symone shares: ✨ "I made the leap with arrogance"—then Microsoft layoffs hit ✨ Three kids in three different colleges while starting a business ✨ Principal Director with 11 directors across the world at Microsoft ✨ "Startups are a whole other language—completely different game" ✨ Her husband is from Nigeria—his mom died when their third child was 6 months old ✨ Learning Nigerian cooking: "CKSP means cooking spoon—that's how they measure" ✨ Five kids with allergies, vegetarian phases, and one who doesn't like cheese ✨ Seven people = doubling or halving every recipe ✨ Printed recipes in notebooks that got gross and torn ✨ 12 years at Microsoft, American Express before that ✨ Married 26 years with five kids, eight chickens, two pugs ✨ LeCuckoo = French slang for "hey" Whether you're in tech, food, or dreaming of entrepreneurship, Symone's story proves that sometimes you need to leap with confidence—even when the timing isn't perfect. About Symone Opara: Symone Opara is the Founder and Board Advisor of LeCuckoo, a platform empowering home cooks to share recipes and earn money. From Phoenix to Boston University to Microsoft Principal Director to Seattle entrepreneur, Symone is solving problems at the intersection of food, culture, and technology. 🍳 Learn more at https://luc.cooking/ [https://luc.cooking/] The growth engine for women who mean business. http://www.f5collective.com [http://www.f5collective.com] 0:00 Opening: I Made the Leap with Arrogance 0:51 Introduction: Symone Opara & Le Cuckoo 1:41 From Phoenix to Boston, San Francisco & Seattle 3:48 Married 26 Years, Five Kids, Eight Chickens 5:13 Boston University: From Computer Science to Mass Comm 6:06 Connecting Through International Food 7:07 Marrying Into Nigerian Culture & Cooking 8:13 What is a "CKSP"? (A Cooking Spoon) 9:55 The Catalyst: Microsoft, Five Kids, From-Scratch Cooking 12:39 Taking the Leap During Microsoft's Layoffs 13:39 Where the Names Le Cuckoo & Luke Come From 15:25 The Luke Experience: Freemium to Professional 16:55 Personalization That Remembers You 17:33 A Growth Path for Chefs 18:25 Reimagining the Cookbook 20:39 Why Start With Recipes 22:32 The Creator Economy Problem 24:00 The Numbers: 175 Million People Looking for Recipes 27:30 The Imbalance in the Food Industry 28:15 Food as Connection: The Potluck Tradition 30:55 Tasting the Stories Behind the Food 33:42 Patenting the Royalty Model (Like Apple Music for Recipes) 40:54 Signal: AI for the Food Industry 38:28 Corporate Experience Meets Startup Life 39:54 "You Don't Know How to Speak Startup" 40:48 The Team, Equity & What's Next 43:33 Wefunder: Investing the Everyday Person 44:33 The Hardest Part: Marketing Yourself 47:05 Advice for Founders: Don't Buy Everything Year One 49:00 Build Your Board Early 51:18 Be Wary of Incubators 51:46 Rapid Five: Chef Dreams I Regret Not Chasing 55:13 Wrap-Up

I Started from My Kitchen Table with a 5-Month-Old | Ashley Bradley, Palma Eyewear Co-Founder

Ashley Bradley turned a gap in the eyewear market into Palma Eyewear—all while raising young kids and working from her kitchen table. In just one year, she's built a thriving brand that prioritizes quality, intentional growth, and community over going viral. In this episode, Ashley shares: ✨ Why she started from her kitchen table with a 5-month-old (and why you can too) ✨ How to work with Chinese manufacturers and get designer-quality at accessible prices ✨ The moment she saw a stranger wearing her sunglasses in public ✨ Growing intentionally vs. chasing viral moments and fake followers ✨ Becoming a "jack of all trades" to build a business you're proud of ✨ Why protecting your IP and testing your products matters from day one ✨ Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship without the guilt Whether you're in fashion, e-commerce, or just dreaming of starting something of your own, Ashley's journey proves that you don't need a perfect setup—you just need to begin. About Ashley Bradley: Ashley is the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Palma Eyewear, an Australian eyewear and accessories brand offering high-quality, polarized sunglasses at accessible prices. From magazine styling to motherhood to entrepreneurship, Ashley is building a brand that makes women feel confident and amazing. 🕶️ Shop La Palma Eyewear and follow their journey at https://palmaeyewear.com [https://palmaeyewear.com] The growth engine for women who mean business. http://www.f5collective.com [http://www.f5collective.com] 0:00 Opening: I Started from My Kitchen Table 0:25 Introduction: La Palma Eyewear 1:21 Growing Up: Academics & Creatives 1:53 Working for House and Garden Magazine 2:25 Having Children & Career Pivot 2:37 The Gap in the Eyewear Market 2:50 Quality Sunglasses at Accessible Prices 3:30 Working with China: Debunking the Myths 5:00 Highest Quality Materials & Technology 6:17 Independent Testing in Australia 7:30 Protecting Your Investment 8:42 The Motherhood & Business Juggle 9:39 Compartmentalizing: When I'm With My Kids, That's What I Do 10:30 Suppliers, Boxes, Tissue—Everything Comes From Everywhere 11:13 The Bondi Moment: Seeing a Stranger Wear Them 12:10 Design Quality Feels at Accessible Prices 12:38 Growing Intentionally vs Going Viral 13:03 My Son Was 5 Months Old at the Kitchen Table 13:45 Becoming a Jack of All Trades 14:30 Learning Meta Ads, Supply Chain, Everything 15:15 Advice: Just Start. Just Do It. Why Not?

After My Illness, I Said 'It's Time'—45 Years Later, We Built Our Dream | Trish Church, Cuorebella

Trish Church-Podlasek spent decades as a creative director for craft magazines. She and her husband dreamed of opening a store together since before they were even married—coming up on their 45th wedding anniversary. Then illness struck. "Once I finished through that process, I said, 'If we're going to do this, it's time.'" Now Cuorebella is a peaceful haven in South Carolina where Trish creates watercolor art, teaches workshops, and helps people find beauty. In this episode, Trish shares: ✨ The illness that made her say "It's time" ✨ 45 years of dreaming with her husband before opening the shop ✨ "I was done with corporate—it was never something I truly loved" ✨ From magazine creative director to product designer ✨ Starting watercolor workshops: "I was afraid—I don't know if I could do it" ✨ Why people say "It's so peaceful here" every single day ✨ Teaching watercolor for 8 years ✨ Creating Cuorebella Paper: her florals, paintings, cards ✨ The scary thing about starting your own business ✨ Drake University: Graphic Design & Jewelry/Silversmithing ✨ Why she loves telling artists' stories Whether you're in design, retail, teaching art, or dreaming of opening a shop with your partner, Trish's story proves it's never too late to go after your dream. About Trish Church-Podlasek: Trish Church-Podlasek is the Owner, Graphic Artist, and Watercolor Artist at Cuorebella in South Carolina. From craft magazine creative director to shop owner and watercolor teacher, Trish creates peaceful spaces where beauty and art feed the soul. 🎨 Visit Cuorebella, watercolor florals & stationery https://cuorebella.com/ [https://cuorebella.com/] The growth engine for women who mean business. http://www.f5collective.com [http://www.f5collective.com] 0:00 Opening: After My Illness, I Said It's Time 0:25 Introduction: Cuorebella 1:00 Magazine to Product Transition 2:00 Growing Up Creative 2:26 Begging Dad for Art Lessons 3:13 High School Art Curriculum 3:27 Drake University 3:45 Graphic Design & Jewelry/Silversmithing 5:00 Early Career in Magazines 6:30 Creative Director Journey 8:42 Before We Were Even Married 8:58 45-Year Dream with My Husband 9:45 Done with Corporate Structure 10:06 The Illness: It's Time to Go After This 10:54 The Scary Thing About Starting 11:30 The Investment & The Will 13:00 Opening Cuorebella 15:27 People Say: It's So Peaceful Here 16:30 We've Made It Happen 17:38 Helping Artists Get Started 18:10 I Was Afraid I Couldn't Teach 18:39 Teaching Watercolor for 8 Years 20:00 The Workshop Experience 22:00 Building Community Through Art 25:00 Cuorebella Paper: My Florals & Paintings 27:00 Wholesale Business Journey 30:00 Patience in Business Growth 33:00 Working with Local Artists 36:00 The Shop Layout & Design 39:01 Feeding People's Souls 42:00 Why We Do This 45:00 Marriage & Business Partnership 48:00 Advice for Entrepreneurs 52:00 Balancing Art & Business 55:00 What's Next 57:00 Rapid Five Q&A