Life, Business and Everything in Between

EP 15: One Key Conversation vs. the Cost of Staying Silent | Marcelle LeBlanc

Sometimes the conversation you are avoiding is the one that could change everything. In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie sits down with Marcelle LeBlanc, creator of Conversation Architect, to talk about honest communication, personal growth, relationships, and the cost of staying silent. Marcelle shares how her years of listening to women through her luxury boutique business, Velvet Box, revealed a pattern she could not ignore: strong, successful women who knew what they wanted, but did not always have the language or structure to ask for it. That insight became the foundation for her new work helping people prepare for one honest conversation that can bring clarity, connection, or the courage to move forward. Content Note: This episode includes conversation about intimacy, relationships, divorce, infidelity, and occasional strong language. They dig into: * How Velvet Box became a “listening library” for women’s real relationship struggles * The difference between hoping things will change and asking for what you need * Why silence can slowly turn into resentment * How one honest conversation can restart connection or reveal the truth * The loneliness of entrepreneurship and the importance of community * Why investing in coaching, communication, and self-awareness can save time, money, and heartache * How communication skills apply to relationships, hiring, business ownership, and leadership Connect with Marcelle LeBlanc: * Website: https://onekeyconversation.com/growth [https://onekeyconversation.com/growth] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_conversation_architect/ [https://www.instagram.com/the_conversation_architect/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theconversationarchitect/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/theconversationarchitect/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConversationArchitect [https://www.facebook.com/TheConversationArchitect]  Connect with Host, Leslie Shields: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/] * The Shields Agency: https://www.theshieldsagency.com [https://www.theshieldsagency.com] Mentioned in the episode: * Entrepreneur Organization (EO): https://eofortworth.org [https://eofortworth.org] * Culture Index: https://www.cultureindex.com [https://www.cultureindex.com]

EP 14: Seasons of Transition - Staying Steady When Life Doesn’t Pause | Leslie Shields

In this solo episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie talks about transitions, mental health, and what it takes to stay grounded when routines shift. From summer schedules and parenting to team changes and business responsibilities that don’t pause, this episode is a real-time reflection on building stability in seasons that feel disorienting. Leslie shares the coping skills and grounding tools that help her most, including movement, quiet, structure, and adapting routines without spiraling. Language Note: This episode includes occasional strong language. You’ll hear about: * Why transitions can feel triggering * Staying grounded through summer schedules and reduced focused hours * Movement, quiet, and structure as mental health anchors * Boundaries and tools to protect your team * Leading through uncertainty when you feel uncertain too 🔗 Connect with Leslie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/] The Shields Agency: https://www.theshieldsagency.com [https://www.theshieldsagency.com]

EP 13: Entrepreneur vs Business Owner - Build Systems That Set You Free | Dr. Collette Portis

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie sits down with Dr. Collette Portis, founder of Red Development Group, for a powerful conversation about authenticity, sustainable systems, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts. Language Note: This episode includes occasional strong language.  Collette shares how her entrepreneurial journey started at age 11, why there’s a difference between being an entrepreneur and being a business owner, and why system-building is the path to freedom. They talk about root-cause problem solving, business assessment, strategy vs implementation, and why getting outside help is not weakness, it’s wisdom. They dig into: * Why identity matters, you are more than your business * The difference between entrepreneurs and business owners (systems = freedom) * How Red Development Group assesses, strategizes, and implements change * The cost of poor structure and a hard lesson in tax debt * Why women often over-serve at their own expense * Getting outside help and learning to trust gut vs heart decisions 🔗 Connect with Dr. Collette Portis: * Email: collette@reddevelopmentgroup.com [colette@reddevelopmentgroup.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colletteportis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/colletteportis/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colletteportis/ [https://www.instagram.com/colletteportis/] Books mentioned: * Drama Free — Nedra Glover Tawwab * Business Secrets of the Bible — Rabbi Lapkin * Outwitting the Devil — Napoleon Hill Keywords: business systems, entrepreneur vs business owner, sustainable growth, implementation, KPIs, leadership, women in business, outside help, consulting, operations

EP 12: Preparing Your Business to Run Without You - Delegation, Data, and Trust | Megan Bond

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie Shields sits down with Megan Bond, owner of Panther City Marketing, for a candid conversation about preparing for maternity leave as a business owner and building a company that can run without you. Megan shares what she’s putting in place before baby arrives, including delegation, reducing approval bottlenecks, and building trust with her team. They also unpack what data-driven marketing really looks like, how to improve lead quality, and why protecting mental health through boundaries is part of building long-term business value. They dig into: * Maternity leave prep as an entrepreneur (and how to plan for a season of reduced capacity) * Delegation, team trust, and removing yourself as the bottleneck * Data-driven marketing decisions and lead quality * Boundaries that protect mental health (and the business) 🔗 Connect with Megan / Panther City Marketing: * Website: https://panthercitydigitalmarketing.com/https://panthercitydigitalmarketing.com [https://panthercitydigitalmarketing.com] * Email: megan@panthercitydigitalmarketing.com [megan@panthercitydigitalmarketing.com] * TikTok / Instagram / Facebook: @panthercitymarketing 🔗 Connect with Leslie Shields / The Shields Agency: * Website: https://www.theshieldsagency.com [https://www.theshieldsagency.com] * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/]

EP 11: From Solo to a Team of 12: Hiring, Culture, and Client Boundaries | Michelle Crim

In this episode of Life, Business and Everything In Between, Leslie Shields sits down with Michelle Crim, founder of Dynamic Development Strategies, for a candid conversation about scaling a consulting business, building a healthy team culture, and setting boundaries that prevent burnout. Michelle shares her unexpected launch story, including how a major health crisis became the catalyst for starting her firm, and how she grew from a solo consultant to a team of twelve. They talk documentation and workflows, hiring intentionally, working across generations, client expectations, and the “not sexy” parts of entrepreneurship like financial anxiety and mental resilience. They dig into: * Launching a business during a personal health crisis (and why it worked) * Scaling from solo to a team of 12, including retired and part-time talent * Documentation, policies, and remote-work guidelines that keep teams aligned * Client boundaries: their crisis is not your emergency * Defining success beyond revenue: impact, team satisfaction, and fulfillment 🔗 Connect with Michelle Crim: * Website: https://www.dynamicdevelopmentstrategies.com/ [https://www.dynamicdevelopmentstrategies.com/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecrimm/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecrim/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecrim/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleWestCrim [https://www.facebook.com/MichelleWestCrim] 🔗 Connect with Leslie Shields: * Website: https://www.theshieldsagency.com [https://www.theshieldsagency.com] * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliealiceshields/] Keywords: nonprofit consulting, fundraising, entrepreneurship, hiring, scaling a service business, company culture, remote work, client boundaries, burnout prevention, Fort Worth, North Texas