Cubicle to CEO

Hosted by Ellen Yin

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442

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Jun 2026

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About the show

We ask founders the business questions you can't Google. Cubicle to CEO® brings you weekly "behind the business" case-study interviews with leading entrepreneurs and CEOs who share a specific growth strategy they've successfully tested, how they implemented it, and what the results (and revenue) were. Host Ellen Yin also shares transparent insights about her own journey bootstrapping a media company from a $300 freelance project into millions in revenue.

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June 15, 202617 min

344. My Honest Experience Buying a Brick & Mortar Retail Store as a Second Business

This is a free preview of a paid episode (59 min), exclusively available on our subscriber-only premium feed. Become a premium subscriber to tune into the full episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions about our premium podcast subscription? Send us a DM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo Introducing “Revenue → Returns (How My Money Makes Me Money)”: our next case study series where we interview entrepreneurs on how they’re investing the money their business makes in ventures outside of their main business to grow their wealth. Kicking off the series with a highly requested discussion on using your business profits to buy another existing business, our founder Ellen Yin debriefs her recent acquisition of Runway Fashion Exchange, a brick and mortar resale store in a college town in Oregon. With details on deal structure, due diligence process, and what returns the store is generating, this is an honest account of what buying a business is actually like — from the first conversation with the seller to now four months in operation as the new owner. Links mentioned in today's episode: Codie Sanchez's episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4T1AQVVwDENbIklsKUFTme?si=74b67d89ee9e4123 https://www.bizbuysell.com/ https://flippa.com https://empirebuilders.com https://bizscout.com If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 10, 202636 min

Bonus: How to Raise Money-Confident Kids (And The Next Generation of Entrepreneurs)

What’s the most effective way to raise entrepreneurial kids who are confident with money and financially literate? Most parents wait until their kids are teenagers to start talking about money, but studies show age 7-9 is actually the most important window for building financial confidence in children. Joining us to share the why and how is a parent with first-hand experience in raising money-smart kids, Mara Williams. Mara is a business coach, author of The Little Books of Big Business series, and creator of Let's Play Money, a playful, practical approach to raising financially literate kids through stories, simple activities, and early entrepreneurship. In this episode, she shares how to incorporate simple, everyday experiences to teach entrepreneurship to the kids in your life starting with what you already know and have in front of you. Connect with Mara: Website (download the free zine & book here): https://www.thelittlebooksofbigbusiness.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelittlebooksofbigbusiness ⁠⁠⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelittlebooksofbigbusiness ⁠YouTube (Parent Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@thelittlebooksofbigbusiness YouTube (Kids Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@letsplaymoney Loving our bonus content and want more Cubicle to CEO in your ears? Join us every Monday on our subscriber-only premium feed for case study–style interviews with successful entrepreneurs debriefing their real-time growth experiments and results. Subscribe to get insider access to what's actually been working for businesses in the last 3-18 months: ⁠⁠cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠ If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 8, 202619 min

343. (Q&A) How To Land Cash & In-Kind Sponsorships To Offset Your Event Costs

This is a free preview of a paid episode (46 min), exclusively available on our subscriber-only premium feed. Become a premium subscriber to tune into the full episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions about our premium podcast subscription? Send us a DM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo Sponsorships aren't just for big conferences with hundreds or thousands of attendees. In this solo episode, Ellen answers subscriber-submitted questions about all things event sponsorships, from local and national sponsorship deals to in-kind partnerships. No matter the size of your event, you can use these creative insider tips to land sponsorships and host more profitable events. To get YOUR questions answered about ALL things sponsorships & brand deals (beyond just events), join Ellen’s pop-up sponsorships group chat by June 22. Join our sponsorships group chat kicking off June 22: https://www.cubicletoceo.co/offers/xQHiPVm8/checkout If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 3, 202640 min

Bonus: To Spend or Not To Spend? How To Evaluate Your Expenses + The Questions Every Business Owner Should Ask Before A Big Financial Decision

Is your next business expense an investment or a mistake? The answer is always nuanced, but the right questions can help you make wiser spending decisions that actually align with your ROI expectations and overarching business goals. With nearly 20 years of experience across multiple sectors of the financial industry (banking, lending, and now financial planning and investment/wealth management), founder of independent adviser Divergent Financial Advisory Services, Alicia Martinez knows exactly how to navigate those tough spending decisions that move your business forward while protecting your budget. Back as a returning guest on our show, she goes meta in today’s episode by walking us through her own decision tree and how she evaluated a recent marketing expense of her own (our offer, Instant Influence). What questions did she ask in the consideration process? How is she defining and tracking success? How can business owners effectively evaluate a financial commitment when the outcome isn't guaranteed? This is the episode to tune into before you make your next big purchase for your business. Connect with Alicia: ⁠https://difiadvisory.com ⁠https://www.instagram.com/difiadvisory ⁠https://www.facebook.com/DiFiAdvisory/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/difiadvisory/ Check out Alicia's freebie & 27 other free resources available for download in our Freebie Fest: https://cubicletoceo.co/freebiefest Our last episode with Alicia: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cubicle-to-ceo/id1470966370?i=1000712399762 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/44nj7IVLPBcz3eTIXdqGPZ?si=wAu98ZqyRtWywBXSzkF7ag Loving our bonus content and want more Cubicle to CEO in your ears? Join us every Monday on our subscriber-only premium feed for case study–style interviews with successful entrepreneurs debriefing their real-time growth experiments and results. Subscribe to get insider access to what's actually been working for businesses in the last 3-18 months: ⁠cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠ If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠our premium feed⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 1, 20267 min

342. 6 Time-Saving Boundaries You’ll Want To Borrow

This is a free preview of a paid episode (40 min), exclusively available on our subscriber-only premium feed. Become a premium subscriber to tune into the full episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions about our premium podcast subscription? Send us a DM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo This week, Ellen gets behind the mic for a solo episode sharing 6 of her best time-saving boundaries she’s implemented in her business in recent years (plus a bonus boundary contributed by a premium subscriber!) Borrow these tips, scripts, and practices for your own business! Bonus tip contributed by Chandani Patel of Clarity Print Co. If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 27, 202631 min

Bonus: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Business

Success on the outside doesn't always match what's happening behind the scenes. Nata Salvatori is a Freedom-First Leadership & Scaling Coach, host of The Accidental CEO® podcast, and creator of the R.E.T.U.R.N. Framework: helping high-capacity founders exit over-responsibility and build businesses that don't depend on them to function. In this episode, she breaks down the invisible load high-achieving women carry that nobody sees, what it really costs to be the glue in your business, and how to stop being the bottleneck. Connect with Nata: The CEO Confidential Waitlist: https://accidentalceo.myflodesk.com/ceoconfidential CEO Capacity Audit Quiz: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/69406257520071b3d67558b4 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accidentalceo.co Loving our bonus content and want more Cubicle to CEO in your ears? Join us every Monday on our subscriber-only premium feed for case study–style interviews with successful entrepreneurs debriefing their real-time growth experiments and results. Subscribe to get insider access to what's actually been working for businesses in the last 3-18 months: ⁠⁠⁠⁠cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 25, 202619 min

341. The “Pods” Team Structure That Pulled Her Out of The Day-to-Day & Doubled Revenue (Without Increasing Hours or Headcount)

This is a free preview of a paid episode (52 min), exclusively available on our subscriber-only premium feed. Become a premium subscriber to tune into the full episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions about our premium podcast subscription? Send us a DM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo What if you could double revenue within 2 years without growing your team headcount or increasing hours? Ann Lopez—founder of Miami-based Studio 790, one of the fastest-growing women-owned design firms in the country—proves it’s possible (while working 15 hours/week less). In today's case study, Ann breaks down the org restructure that placed her team in pods and pulled her out of the day-to-day execution and decision making. Connect with Ann: https://www.studio790.com/ https://www.annlopezliving.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-lopez-3165722b/ IG: @studio790interiordesign IG: @annlopezliving If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 202621 min

340. Cutting Her Service Menu In Half Gave Her 40 Hours a Week Back (and 2-3X'd Average Client Revenue)

This is a free preview of a paid episode (44 min), exclusively available on our subscriber-only premium feed. Become a premium subscriber to tune into the full episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions about our premium podcast subscription? Send us a DM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo In the last two years, KJ Blattenbauer intentionally dismantled and rebuilt her PR business after realizing it was overserviced, underleveraged, and capped by her own time. She was booked and visible, but revenue only grew when she took on more work. KJ is a two-time bestselling author and founder of Hearsay PR, where she's spent nearly three decades helping founders become the person everyone is talking about. In today’s case study, she walks us through her exact service restructure, including cutting more than half her service menu and resetting pricing around outcomes instead of deliverables. These changes increased her average client revenue by 2–3x while significantly reducing her work time by 40 hours per week. Connect with KJ: Turn visibility into authority with KJ's book, Pitchworthy: https://www.hearsaypr.com/buy-my-book www.hearsaypr.com IG: @kjblattenbauer www.linkedin.com/in/kjblattenbauer If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 202631 min

Bonus: Before You Spend Another Dollar on FB/IG Ads, Listen to This

Have you tried running ads and watched your budget disappear with nothing to show for it? Claire Pelletreau has seen this time and time again, and she's on a mission to make sure you never waste another dollar in the Zuckerberg machine. A Facebook and Instagram ads expert and conversion optimization strategist, and the host of the Get Paid Podcast, Claire is known for making ads actually make sense without the jargon or an expensive agency eating your margins. In this episode, she breaks down exactly when you're ready to start running ads, what to run first, how much to actually budget, and what's working right now — including why ads are genuinely easier to get results from than they used to be. Connect with Claire: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1 Simples Ad : https://clairepells.com/ceo Website: clairepells.com Get Paid Podcast: https://pod.link/1005195731/ ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairepells/ Loving our bonus content and want more Cubicle to CEO in your ears? Join us every Monday on our subscriber-only premium feed for case study–style interviews with successful entrepreneurs debriefing their real-time growth experiments and results. Subscribe to get insider access to what's actually been working for businesses in the last 3-18 months: ⁠⁠⁠cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 11, 202619 min

339. Systemizing To Six Figures: Increasing Average Earnings From $23 to $303/hr On a 9-Hour Work Week

This is a free preview of a paid episode (43 min), exclusively available on our subscriber-only premium feed. Become a premium subscriber to tune into the full episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions about our premium podcast subscription? Send us a DM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo Just in time for summer, we’re kicking off our series on working less! Over the past seven years, email marketer and agency founder Kieryn Wang grew her hourly rate by 1,300% while cutting her workweek down to under 10 hours, averaging multiple six figures a year in the process. In today's case study, Kieryn breaks down how she’s steadily reducing her hours year over year while simultaneously raising her hourly earnings from ALLMOST, the boutique email marketing agency she founded nearly a decade ago. Her simple process for tracking her time and performance data to continuously optimize what’s working is especially fascinating (and easy to borrow!) Connect with Kieryn: Join The Conversion Club: itsallmost.com/the-conversion-club-founder Use code CEO for $30 off! Download the Inbox-to-Revenue Toolkit: https://www.itsallmost.com/cubicletoceo https://www.itsallmost.com IG: ⁠@itsallmost IG Post about time tracking: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYA6ZnBDVYS/?img_index=1 If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices