Girl, Get Up: Life & Times of an Infinite Dreamer A Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs

Episode 104: How to Expand Your Brand into New Markets w/ Heather Johnson of Polaris Brand Promotions

36 min · 22. mar. 2026
Billede af episoden Episode 104: How to Expand Your Brand into New Markets w/ Heather Johnson of Polaris Brand Promotions

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Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/fan_mail/new] On Sunday, March 22 at 1 PM, tune in to hear how graphic designer Heather Johnson turned her passion for visual communication into multiple successful businesses.  From freelance agency Hevadeer Designs to Marketing Director of Polaris Brand Promotions to Co-Founder of SampleFinder, Heather Johnson is truly a branding powerhouse. In Episode 104: How to Expand Your Brand into New Markets, Heather unpacks the key difference between branding and marketing, and why branding must come first. She also explains how brand ambassadors create meaningful human touchpoints that influence buying decisions and shares the psychology behind customer engagement strategies that convert. As Marketing Director of Polaris Brand Promotions, Heather has built her career around one core belief: authentic human connection drives brand success. That philosophy is reflected in Polaris’s work to close the experiential marketing gap by connecting brands with local talent across the country. Key Interview Insights: ✨ From Early Fascination to Professional Mastery – Heather’s details how her interest in graphic design as a youth grew into a successful career in visual communications  ✨ Visual Communication with Purpose – Through HevaDeer Designs, Heather provides affordable graphic design services that help small businesses and minority-owned brands in Philadelphia strengthen their visual identity.  ✨ Polaris Brand Promotions: Helping Brands Enter New Markets – Polaris uses experiential marketing and strategic brand activations to help businesses expand into new markets nationwide.  ✨ Branding vs. Marketing: Why the Difference Matters – Heather breaks down the critical difference between branding and marketing and explains why branding must come first. ✨ Brand Ambassador vs. Promo Model: Knowing the Difference – Heather clarifies the distinction between brand ambassadors and promo models, and why the two are often misunderstood, but both very necessary for creating memorable brand experiences. ✨ SampleFinder: The Future of Experiential Marketing (Launching April 2026) – Heather introduces SampleFinder, the first app designed exclusively to promote experiential and promotional brand activations directly to consumers. This episode is ideal for small business owners looking for affordable, professional branding support, entrepreneurs who are building a strong visual brand identity, and businesses ready to enter new markets through human-centered campaigns. Connect with Heather Johnson Website: https://polarisbrandpromotions.com/ [https://polarisbrandpromotions.com/] IG: PolarisBrandPromotions Brands Ready to Partner with Polaris Brand Promotions:  sales@polarisbrandpromotions.com [sales@polarisbrandpromotions.com] Hevadeer Graphic Designs: https://www.hevadeer.com/hevadeer [https://www.hevadeer.com/hevadeer] 📑eBook Girl, Get Up!" reveals the exact strategies she uses to build a brand leveraging podcast appearances. Drawing on 100+ interviews and her transformation from resume writer to influential entrepreneur, this eBook is a masterclass in personal branding, visibility, and monetization. eBook available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/07my2uOf Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/support] Follow Girl, Get Up! on Instagram @girlgetupcollective

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107 episodes

episode Episode 109: The Grief That Made Me: How Author Ashley P. Turned Grief into a Healing Movement artwork

Episode 109: The Grief That Made Me: How Author Ashley P. Turned Grief into a Healing Movement

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/fan_mail/new] Meet Ashley P! A mom, survivor, overcomer, and encourager who transformed devastating loss into a mission to heal thousands of women. When Ashley lost both her brother and the father of her children in a tragic shooting, she faced a choice: remain broken or rebuild with faith. In this powerful Girl, Get Up: Expert Spotlight conversation, Ashley reveals how surrender and accountability became her pathway through grief, and why women don't have to define themselves by their trauma. Ashley P Enterprises, her faith-based personal development brand, is built on one core belief: every woman deserves to know her worth and experience the transformative power of God's healing.  Discover the real difference between having a story and becoming a thought leader who uses that story for others' liberation. Learn about Ashley's book "The Grief That Made Me," her framework for moving beyond grief and trauma, and the coaching and publishing mission reshaping how women process loss.  This episode explores the role of faith, humility, and community in healing, and why accountability matters more than excuses. Ashley shares vulnerable details about hitting rock bottom, finding God's presence during depression, and the turning point that led her to help other women see their infinite potential.  The life lesson Ashley's story encourages? It isn't about what happened to you.  It's about who can become because of what happened, and who you can help through their healing. Key Expert Excerpts: 🔖The Beginning: Family & Connection – Ashley’s unique family dynamics and close bond with her brother. 🔖The Tragedy: Loss That Changed Everything – Ashley experienced something many don't talk about: losing two crucial people at the same time. 🔖The Long Journey: From Survival to Healing – Ashley candidly explores the truth of hitting significant roadblocks and parenting through loss as a single mother. 🔖The Turning Point: Finding God's Presence - Rather than stay stuck in depression, Ashley opened herself to God's presence. 🔖Surrender + Accountability = Transformation – Ashley learned the hard lesson of surrendering what you can't control and taking accountability for what you can. 🔖Birthing The Book: "The Grief That Made Me" - "The Grief That Made Me" isn't just memoir; it's a healing guide wrapped in testimony. 🔖Ashley P Enterprises: The Mission - It's a movement built on one conviction: women deserve to heal, see their worth, and experience transformation. This episode is perfect for women navigating grief and trauma, single mothers rebuilding, anyone questioning their worth after loss, faith-centered individuals seeking healing, and listeners ready to transform pain into purpose.   Contact Ashley P Enterprises: * Instagram: thehustlinmama_ * Book: "The Grief That Made Me" – https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLFNM8CXTENE2/checkout/VEPCMG5U7MGFSSAA3RHDESJE [https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLFNM8CXTENE2/checkout/VEPCMG5U7MGFSSAA3RHDESJE] ABOUT GIRL, GET UP:  📑eBook Girl, Get Up!" reveals the exact strategies she uses to build a brand leveraging podcast appearances. Drawing on 100+ interviews and her transformation from resume writer to influential entrepreneur, this eBook is a masterclass in personal branding, visibility, and monetization. eBook available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/07my2uOf Visit my Stan Store today and get the tools to help you use podcasting to grow your brand with intention - https://stan.store/MsCJones #GirlGetUpPodcast #AshleyPEnterprises #TheGriefThatMadeMe #GriefRecovery #FaithHealing #WomensMentalHealth #PersonalDevelopment #MovingForward Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/support] Follow Girl, Get Up! on Instagram @girlgetupcollective

19. juli 202656 min
episode Episode 108: From Marvel to BrandPod: How Ruhene Jaura Helps Small Businesses Access Big Brand Strategies artwork

Episode 108: From Marvel to BrandPod: How Ruhene Jaura Helps Small Businesses Access Big Brand Strategies

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/fan_mail/new] Meet Ruhene Jaura, CEO and co-founder of heyLevi, the AI-powered app making billion-dollar brand marketing strategies accessible to small businesses.  Born in India into an Air Force family, Ruhene learned early to adapt to rapid change and master the art of rebranding herself across new places. Her unique journey from pursuing an Aeronautical Engineering degree to working with Marvel Studios on visual effects, to becoming a product launch consultant for Apple, Amazon, Motorola, and Microsoft, positioned her perfectly to decode what big brands do and make it simple for startups.  In this Girl, Get Up episode, Ruhene reveals how small businesses can compete without big budgets, why marketing doesn't have to be complicated, and the secret to implementing AI in your business: getting and leveraging the right data. Discover how BrandPod and heyLevi's (AI-powered research engines) find businesses target audience's weekly search terms, and get you featured where they actually spend time. Ruhene’s career is a masterclass in adaptation, strategic thinking, and seeing what others miss.  Perfect for small business owners competing against big brands, entrepreneurs seeking affordable marketing solutions, and creators building personal brands. Key Expert Excerpts: 🌺Life Had Other Plans: From Engineering to Entertainment to AI - Ruhene's path from engineering to visual effects to marketing. 🌺The Corporate Years: Learning How Big Brands Work – Discovering how big brands used access to expensive research to their advantage.  🌺Marketing Doesn't Have to Be Complicated: The Real Secret – Why knowing what your audience is searching for, and where they're spending time is valuable to business owners. 🌺Deep Research Agents: Creating Meaningful Content – AI systems such as heyLevi and BrandPod can help smaller businesses connect dots between different data points 🌺Your Unique Advantage: The Real Competitive Edge – How being better at something specific, helps small businesses compete against bigger brands. 🌺The Shift from SEO to GEO and AEO: What's Changing – how people find information is changing. Your strategy needs to change with it. 🌺All About BrandPod and heyLevi: Closing the Billion-Dollar Gap - Instead of guessing what to create, you know exactly what your audience is looking for. Connect with Ruhene Jaura:  Website: https://ruheene.com/ [https://ruheene.com/] BrandPod: https://brandpod.ai/ [https://brandpod.ai/] heyLevi: https://heylevi.ai/ [https://heylevi.ai/] Kaia: Your Thought Leadership Story Coach: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69262ba7792481918ab4f604e6b061a1-kaia-your-thought-leadership-story-coach [https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69262ba7792481918ab4f604e6b061a1-kaia-your-thought-leadership-story-coach]  Ruhene Jaura's episode exemplifies how understanding your unique advantage and leveraging smart strategy can close gaps and create opportunity at any scale. ABOUT GIRL, GET UP:  📑eBook Girl, Get Up!" reveals the exact strategies she uses to build a brand leveraging podcast appearances. Drawing on 100+ interviews and her transformation from resume writer to influential entrepreneur, this eBook is a masterclass in personal branding, visibility, and monetization. eBook available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/07my2uOf Visit my Stan Store today and get the tools to help you use podcasting to grow your brand with intention - https://stan.store/MsCJones  #GirlGetUpPodcast #BrandStrategy #RuheneJaura #SmallBusinessMarketing #AIMarketing #UniqueAdvantage #BrandPositioning #AIForBusiness Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/support] Follow Girl, Get Up! on Instagram @girlgetupcollective

12. juli 202656 min
episode Episode 107: Why Black Businesses Can't Miss Out on AI: A CEO's Vision for Black Wall Street 2030 w/ William Makell Jr. artwork

Episode 107: Why Black Businesses Can't Miss Out on AI: A CEO's Vision for Black Wall Street 2030 w/ William Makell Jr.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/fan_mail/new] My next Girl, Get Up! Expert knows a thing or two about pressing through adversity.  Meet William J. Makell Jr., one of very few African American Coast Guard pilots and CEO of WJM Success Solutions, a leadership coach and AI consultant transforming how organizations and individuals navigate change, build resilience, and stay competitive. After 33 years in uniform serving his country, William brings hard-earned wisdom to his leadership coaching and AI advocacy work with clients including Army officers, NASA, CIA, and global pharmaceutical companies.  Born prematurely, William learned early to fight for his life. Despite struggling with SAT scores and initial academic challenges that threatened his Coast Guard Academy career goals, he refused to accept limitations others tried to place on him. His breakthrough came when a fellow pilot helped him see himself differently, a moment that transformed his self-image and trajectory.  Today, William coaches leaders using one of his frameworks, the Seven Pillars of Success, while advocating for Black businesses and communities to embrace AI adoption through his vision of Black Wall Street 2030. In this Girl, Get Up Podcast episode, you will discover how aligning your self-image with your vision creates unstoppable momentum, why mindset is neurologically linked to leadership effectiveness, and how one Coast Guard pilot's belief in a young officer rippled into a career serving others.  William's story proves that your beginning doesn't determine your ending, your belief in yourself does. Key Expert Excerpts: 🎖️Family as Foundation - William shares about his father's influence and their close relationship, a father who modeled perseverance, service, and the importance of striving for what matters. 🎖️Academic Struggles That Didn't Define Him - In his youth, William struggled with SAT scores and curriculums were challenging, but his background prepared him for resilience.  🎖️ The Military Career: A Childhood Dream Realized - Despite early academic struggles, William achieved his childhood goal: becoming an officer in the United States Coast Guard, and one of very few African American pilots in the Coast Guard. 🎖️Aligning Self-Image with Vision – How a fellow pilot took time to help William see himself differently.  🎖️The Seven Pillars of Success: Foundation of WJM Success Solutions - The foundation of William's leadership coaching and his entire philosophy of success rests on the Seven Pillars (mindset, skill set, vision, faith, action, integrity, and perseverance). 🎖️Leadership Coaching and AI Consulting: Making the Invisible Visible - William describes his work as helping leaders free themselves of limiting beliefs they don't recognize as limiting. 🎖️AI Consulting: The Future of Business - AI isn't replacing human leadership.  William advocates for businesses to adopt AI to stay competitive 🎖️Community Engagement and Black Business Support - William speaks a powerful vision: Black Wall Street 2030 encouraging black business owners to create wealth and economic power in their communities using AI This episode is perfect for entrepreneurs building resilience, leaders navigating identity shifts, business owners considering how AI adoption can modernize the way they do business.  Lesson for the listening audience: Struggles don't determine destiny. Connect with William J. Makell Jr.: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-j-makell-jr/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-j-makell-jr/] (Primary) Gift for your Audience: Free Business Performance Diagnostic - https://innercorebpd.vibepreview.com/ [https://innercorebpd.vibepreview.com/] ✅Join the Chosen For Greatness Leadership Network - https://portal.chosenforgreatnessleadershipnetwork.com/communities/groups/cfgln-community/private-group [https://portal.chosenforgreatnessleadershipnetwork.com/communities/groups/cfgln-community/private-group] ✅Email: WMakell@WJMSuccessSolutions.com ABOUT GIRL, GET UP:  📑eBook Girl, Get Up!" reveals the exact strategies she uses to build a brand leveraging podcast appearances. Drawing on 100+ interviews and her transformation from resume writer to influential entrepreneur, this eBook is a masterclass in personal branding, visibility, and monetization. eBook available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/07my2uOf Visit my Stan Store today and get the tools to help you use podcasting to grow your brand with intention - https://stan.store/MsCJones #GirlGetUpExperts #SevenPillarsOfSuccess #WilliamMakellJr #WJMSuccessSolutions #LeadershipCoaching #BlackWallStreet2030 #MindsetMatters #AIAdoption Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/support] Follow Girl, Get Up! on Instagram @girlgetupcollective

28. juni 202658 min
episode Episode 106: From Cardiac Arrest at 17 to Coaching Youth: A Coach’s Story of a Second Chance at Life w/ Coach CeJay artwork

Episode 106: From Cardiac Arrest at 17 to Coaching Youth: A Coach’s Story of a Second Chance at Life w/ Coach CeJay

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/fan_mail/new] Today's episode is all about second chances! Meet Coach CeJay Bromell, a basketball trainer from Conway, South Carolina, who experienced cardiac arrest at 17, a life-altering moment that forced him to transition from passionate player to transformational basketball coach for youth. After healing physically, mentally, and emotionally, CeJay created Next Level Basketball Training, a program focused on mentorship, spiritual growth, and developing youth athletes' skills AND character.  In this powerful conversation, Coach CeJay shares the attributes of success both on and off the court: work ethic, proper preparation, self-teaching, and the five P's framework (Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance). Discover how his relationship with fiancée Danielle influenced his personal growth, why he emphasizes mentorship over transactional training, and his vision to expand his program nationally. You will learn why parents should support their children without pressure, the importance of authentic love and teamwork in sports and life, and how grieving your past identity opens doors to your future purpose.  A Coach's Second Chance at Life w/ Coach CeJay is perfect for parents seeking youth coaching beyond skill development, young athletes needing holistic mentorship, coaches wanting to impact lives beyond the court, entrepreneurs building purpose-driven programs, and anyone navigating unexpected life pivots and second chances.  Key Expert Excerpts: 💫The Moment Everything Changed - a life-threatening medical emergency that could have ended his life. For a young athlete, it felt like the end of his world. 💫Learning to Grieve the Past Self - One of the most challenging aspects of CeJay's journey was grieving who he was and finding peace in his new role. 💫The Foundation: Work Ethic, Proper Preparation, Self-Teaching - CeJay emphasizes the importance of work ethic, proper preparation, and the five P's (Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance). 💫Supporting Parents and Students: Mentorship Over Transactional Training - CeJay emphasizes building genuine connections with students and becoming mentors and coaches, not just trainers. 💫Next Level Basketball Training Program: More Than Skills - Next Level Basketball Training works with students of all ages, recognizing that athletic development and habit formation begin early. 💫Future Vision and Expansion Throughout The Community - CeJay sees potential for Next Level Basketball Training to bring his mentorship-centered, spiritually-grounded coaching philosophy to youth everywhere. 💫The Power of Partnership - CeJay credits his fiancée Danielle with significantly influencing his personal growth and helping him see the world more positively. Lesson for the listening audience:  Your greatest setback can become your greatest comeback. Connect with Coach CeJay Bromell: Good Ball-Movement Project - Documentary:  https://youtu.be/3cu-UxIPmCo?si=vvEIoOrbUxFYTDh4 [https://youtu.be/3cu-UxIPmCo?si=vvEIoOrbUxFYTDh4] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17BRxHF21X/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/17BRxHF21X/?mibextid=wwXIfr] IG & TikTok: @good.ballmovement ABOUT GIRL, GET UP:  📑eBook Girl, Get Up!" reveals the exact strategies she uses to build a brand leveraging podcast appearances. Drawing on 100+ interviews and her transformation from resume writer to influential entrepreneur, this eBook is a masterclass in personal branding, visibility, and monetization. eBook available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/07my2uOf Visit my Stan Store today and get the tools to help you use podcasting to grow your brand with intention - https://stan.store/MsCJones #GirlGetUpPodcast #CoachCeJay #SecondChances #NextLevelBasketballTraining #YouthMentorship #FivePs #WorkEthic #CharacterDevelopment #CardiacArrivalSurvivor #CoachingPhilosophy #ConwaySouthCarolina #BasketballTraining #AuthenticCoaching #MentorshipMatters #FaithAndSports  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/support] Follow Girl, Get Up! on Instagram @girlgetupcollective

21. juni 202630 min
episode Episode 105: The P.I.V.O.T Principle w/ Dr. Shelley Carruth Kemp artwork

Episode 105: The P.I.V.O.T Principle w/ Dr. Shelley Carruth Kemp

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/fan_mail/new] Welcome to Season 8 of Girl, Get Up: Life & Times of an Infinite Dreamer Podcast! Our premiere features Dr. Shelley Kemp, Ed.D., SHRM-SCP, a nationally recognized leadership coach, HR executive, and author of The PIVOT Principle: When Changing Directions Happens. After her son's life-altering accident in 2018, Dr. Shelley developed a transformative 25-minute daily P.I.V.O.T routine that became the foundation for helping women and workplace leaders navigate change with peace and confidence. As Dr. Shelley shares her journey you will discover how a teacher's discouragement in youth almost derailed her writing dreams until personal tragedy reignited her passion and led to this powerful book. This is the story of how resilience, faith, and practical tools can transform crises into catalysts for personal and professional breakthrough—told through the lens of a mother's journey supporting her son's recovery while rebuilding her own sense of purpose and calling. Key Expert Excerpts: 💫The Dreamer Discouraged: A Teacher's Impact - The power of discouragement from authority figures. 💫2018: The Accident That Changed Everything – How life shifted dramatically when Dr. Shelley’s son, Anthony, experienced a life-altering accident, and the impossible pressure she faced as a mother. 💫The P.I.V.O.T Principle: A Framework Born From Necessity - the PIVOT Formula, a 25-minute daily routine designed to bring peace and confidence to the process of change. 💫Barriers to Leadership for Women: Knowing Yourself Is Power - The importance of knowing oneself and leveraging one's strengths to embody leadership roles. 💫What Is Pivot Well, LLC? – Dr. Shelley’s goal is to work with non-profits and helping young professionals understand the importance of coaching and mentorship. 💫Resilience, Recovery & Life After Accident – Dr. Shelley shares her son’s recovery as living proof that pivots lead somewhere. 💫Michael Phelps’s Visualization Technique: Mental Rehearsal for Success – How interviewing Michael Phelps shed light on the importance of training your mind. Lesson for the listening audience:  Pivoting from disappointment to purpose proves that your greatest challenges can become your greatest contributions.  Connect with Dr. Shelley Kemp: 🌐Website: https://www.shelleykemp.com/ [https://www.shelleykemp.com/] 📖Book Purchase (Barnes & Noble): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pivot-principle-shelley-kemp/1149600985 [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pivot-principle-shelley-kemp/1149600985] 📲Facebook: Shelley Carruth Kemp (Dr. Shelley Kemp) 📑eBook Girl, Get Up!" reveals the exact strategies she uses to build a brand leveraging podcast appearances. Drawing on 100+ interviews and her transformation from resume writer to influential entrepreneur, this eBook is a masterclass in personal branding, visibility, and monetization. eBook available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/07my2uOf #GirlGetUpPodcast #Season8Premiere #DrShelleyKemp #PIVOTPrinciple #LeadershipCoach #WomenInLeadership #ChangeManagement #PivotWellLLC  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2236604/support] Follow Girl, Get Up! on Instagram @girlgetupcollective

14. juni 202638 min