ICONIK CEO®

Hosted by Nikisha King

Business Entrepreneurship

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100

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Aug 2026

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About the show

You've shrunk in rooms that were never built for you. You've dimmed your voice so someone else could feel bigger. You've carried everyone else's needs on your back while your own dream sat quiet in the corner. Not anymore. Welcome to the ICONIK CEO® Podcast for women CEOs. This show was created for the woman who's done borrowing space. Done building someone else's empire with her own two hands. You're here to build your empire. Not a hobby (no hobbist allowed). Not a side project. An empire that outlives you and cracks the door open for the next woman standing where you used to stand. Because when one woman rises, she doesn't rise alone. She pulls the whole room up with her. This is ICONIK CEO®. Stop shrinking. Start scaling.

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60 recent

August 18, 202636 min

The Real Reason You Sabotage Your Next Level, With Katie Pulsifer

She's got the title, the income, the résumé that reads like she made it. And underneath, something still feels hollow. Katie Pulsifer has spent 13 years sitting across from women exactly there, women who've done everything right and still feel like the floor isn't quite solid. Katie's a Master Certified life coach and the creator of the Golden Coaching Certification. She spent 13 years training coaches, including Nikisha, and years before that in a corporate career that looked perfect from the outside while she quietly felt like something was missing on the inside. She's since built her own business twice, once after a divorce and once after losing what she thought was her dream job. In this episode, she and Nikisha talk about where that hollow feeling actually comes from, why it's not a sign you've done anything wrong, and what it takes to rebuild an identity when the ground shifts under you. They get into the real difference between a skill gap and a belief gap, why women quietly sabotage their own next level, and how to stop tying your worth to your business. If you've built something that looks successful and still feels like it's missing a floor underneath it, this conversation's for you. Connect with Katie Pulsifer Website: katiepulsifercoaching.com Instagram: @katiepulsifer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katiepulsifer Substack: Katie Pulsifer Golden Quiz You Built the Dream Life, So Why Aren't You Happy? Take the quiz to learn why ➡️ katiepulsifercoaching.com/quiz Author she recommends : Isabel Allende, known for historical fiction with strong female characters overcoming extraordinary odds How to Stay Connect with Nikisha: Nikisha King Website IG: @Nikisha.King Fully Booked Workshop If you're in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania), or you've been in business two or more years and you're tired of webinars you never actually implement, this one's for you. On August 25th at the Embassy Suites in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Nikisha's hosting Fully Booked , a full-day, in-person workshop for women business owners ready to fill their calendar. Click Here to Learn More about Fully Booked Workshop

August 11, 202650 min

She Rebuilt 98: Everything From Rock Bottom: Andrea Ingstrom on Betting on Herself

She built a multi-seven-figure branding agency, then found herself hiding vodka in a water bottle just to get through the day. Andrea Ingstrom's story doesn't start with a strategy. It starts with rock bottom, a husband who drew a line in the sand, and a decision to get sober three weeks before the world shut down. Nine months later, she sold the agency. Then she started completely over, betting on herself with a $2,000 offer and no ad budget. She closed $64,000 in six weeks and $134,000 in her first 90 days, all from picking up the phone and asking. Today she runs six-figure months working three days a week. In this episode, Andrea talks about what's really happening inside a woman who won't charge what she's worth, why confidence comes from action instead of the other way around, and the exact four-step process she uses to turn a single DM into a client. If you're grinding without seeing the numbers move, this one hands you a way through. A note for listeners: this episode includes an honest conversation about alcohol misuse and recovery. It's shared from a place of strength and healing, not crisis. About Andrea Engstrom Andrea Engstrom is a seven-figure business coach and founder of BOLD Mastermind, helping women entrepreneurs build six- and seven-figure coaching businesses with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Host of The Andrea Engstrom Show, she's known for blending bold strategy with mindset and soul-aligned success. When she's offline, she's at the hot springs in Colorado or with her grandboos in Kansas. How to Connect with Andrea: Website: andreaengstrom.com Instagram: @coach.andreaengstrom Facebook: facebook.com/likeandreaengstrom The Andrea Engstrom Show on YouTube: Watch here The Andrea Engstrom Show on Spotify: Listen here Awaken Your Magnetic Magic - Her book: Bold Confidence , boldconfidencebook.com How to Connect with Nikisha: Nikisha King Website IG: @Nikisha.King Fully Booked Workshop If you're in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania), or you've been in business two or more years and you're tired of webinars you never actually implement, this one's for you. On August 25th at the Embassy Suites in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Nikisha's hosting Fully Booked , a full-day, in-person workshop for women business owners ready to fill their calendar. Click Here to Learn More about Fully Booked Workshop

August 4, 202636 min

97: Scared to Look at Your Numbers? Sarah Fisher on Growing Your Bottom Line

There's a folder you haven't opened. A login you have not checked in weeks. Somewhere in there is a number that could change how you price, how you plan, how you sleep, and part of you already knows that, which is exactly why you keep avoiding it. Sarah Fisher knows that fear from both sides. She started Well Kept Bookkeeping as a side hustle in 2017 while going through a hard season, and grew it into a bookkeeping firm serving small business owners across the country. In this episode, she makes the numbers feel human. She shares how to stop being afraid of your finances, why your profit and loss is just a story written in another language, and how to grow your bottom line without shrinking yourself in the process. She's honest about underpricing, the real cost of messy books, and what has to be true before you raise your prices. Then she hands you the one simple step to get braver with your money, starting today. If you are two or more years into your service business and tired of working hard for money you cannot seem to find, this one is for you. About Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher is the founder of Well Kept Bookkeeping, a bookkeeping firm serving small business owners across the country. A full-time mom and the breadwinner of her household, she started Well Kept Bookkeeping as a side hustle in 2017 while going through a difficult season, and grew it from a one-woman operation into a five-person firm. As of today, she's stepped out of the day-to-day bookkeeper role into leading as CEO. Connect with Sarah Fisher Website: Well Kept LinkedIn Enjoy a free 30-minute consultation using the link below; mention ICONIK CEO Podcast: https://calendly.com/sarahf-wellkeptbooks/30min How to Stay Connected with Nikisha: Nikisha King Website IG: @Nikisha.King Fully Booked Workshop If you're in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania), or you've been in business two or more years and you're tired of webinars you never actually implement, this one's for you. On August 25th at the Embassy Suites in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Nikisha's hosting Fully Booked , a full-day, in-person workshop for women business owners ready to fill their calendar. Click Here to Learn More about Fully Booked Workshop

July 28, 202637 min

96: She Built a Team of 28 Without Micromanaging: Jennifer Kaplan on Scaling a Service Business

You started your business because you were good at the work. Two years in, you are the work. Every client, every email, every decision runs through you, and the growth you wanted has quietly turned into burnout. Jennifer Kaplan lived that . She built Evolve PR from a one-woman operation into a team of 28 serving more than 140 clients. In this episode, she walks through how the shift from solopreneur to CEO actually happens. She gets honest about knowing when to hire your first employee, letting go of control so you can stop micromanaging, and why systems, not hustle, are what let a service business scale. She breaks down how to attract high-value clients instead of competing on price, how to get clear on your ideal client, and how to build a brand people remember. She shares the turnover that forced her to build over 100 systems, and the moment she stopped trying to serve everyone. If you are five or more years into your service business and ready to stop doing everything and start leading, this one is for you. About Jennifer Kaplan Jennifer Kaplan is the founder and president of Evolve PR & Marketing, Arizona's largest public relations firm. Since launching in 2010, she has grown Evolve into a team of 28 full-time publicists serving more than 140 clients across local and national markets. She has been recognized as one of Arizona's most influential women in business and leads with a relationship-first approach built on visibility, trust, and connection. Resources & Links Connect with Jennifer Kaplan Website: evolveprandmarketing.com Instagram: @evolveprandmarketing LinkedIn: @jennifer-kaplan Connect with Nikisha King Website: nikishaking.com Instagram: @nikisha.kin g Books Mentioned The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson Good to Great by Jim Collins

April 28, 202640 min

95: Why Your Business Has Hit a Ceiling (And It's Not About Sales)

Episode Description You're working harder than ever. Still, something feels off behind the scenes. In this episode, Nikisha sits down with Colleen Carswell, fractional COO and founder of Structured to Scale, to get honest about what's actually holding creative businesses back. Colleen's philosophy, Systems Before Sales, has been featured in Forbes, Success, Travel & Leisure, and USA Today. And she brings all of it here. If you've ever wondered what sustainable scaling actually looks like, and what it costs you when your infrastructure can't hold the growth you're chasing, this conversation is going to hit. About Colleen Carswell Colleen Carswell is the CEO and founder of Structured to Scale. With 18 years of hospitality experience, starting as a wedding coordinator on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, she now works as a fractional COO helping businesses build stronger systems, retain incredible teams, and grow without burning everyone out. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Success, Travel & Leisure, and USA Today. Resources & Links Connect with Colleen Carswell: Website: structuredtoscale.com Instagram: @colleencarswell LinkedIn: @colleen-carswell Connect with Nikisha King: Website: nikishaking.com Instagram: @nikishaking

March 24, 202647 min

94: Why You’re Making Money But Still Not Profitable (And How to Fix It) w/ Susanne Mariga

In this episode of the ICONIK CEO Podcast, we’re talking about something many entrepreneurs quietly struggle with: You’re booking clients. You’re generating revenue. But you still feel a little uncertain, reactive, and unsure about your money. If you’ve ever thought: “I make money, but I don’t feel in control.” “Where is all my money actually going?” “Why does scaling feel more stressful instead of easier?” “When will I finally feel profitable?” This conversation is for you. I’m joined by CPA and Certified Profit First Professional Susanne Mariga , founder of Profit First for Minority Business Enterprises. This is not a conversation about spreadsheets. This is about leadership. It’s about ownership. It’s about designing profit intentionally not hoping it’s there at the end. How to Connect with Susanne Mariga: Susanne's Website Susanne's Instagram Susanne's LinkedIn Her Gift to You: Free Profit First Assessment & Cash Flow Template : Discover how to increase your business profits and gain financial clarity with this free Profit resource. Ready to Go Deeper? If this episode hit something in you, if you’re tired of fear-based decisions and reactive leadership Sign up for The Disruptive Chronicles w/ Nikisha . Where we help you shift from fear to action. From reaction to leadership. From overwhelmed to ICONIK. Join the Disruptive Chronicles, where we dream bigger than our fears ➡️ Disruptive Chronicles

March 10, 202640 min

93: How to Simplify Your Business Systems Without Losing Creativity w/ Tracy Holt

If you’ve ever felt like your business is growing faster than your backend can handle, this episode is for you. So many women entrepreneurs want to scale. They want more clients, more revenue, more visibility. But what they don’t realize is this: scaling without structure creates chaos, not freedom. In this episode of the ICONIK CEO Podcast , Nikisha King sits down with professional organizer and systems expert Tracy Holt to unpack what really happens behind the scenes when entrepreneurs try to grow without clear processes. They talk about digital clutter, messy file systems, scattered workflows, and the hidden mental load that slows down scaling. Because here’s the truth: you cannot grow past the structure your business can support. This conversation shifts the idea of “systems” from corporate and restrictive to supportive and freeing. Systems aren’t about perfection. They’re about creating repeatable processes so your brain isn’t carrying everything on its own. This Episode Answers Questions like: How do I scale my business without burning out? Why does growth feel chaotic? When should I put systems in place? How do I hire help if nothing is organized? What systems do I actually need to grow? If this episode made you realize your next level requires more clarity, not more hustle, it’s time to move from awareness into action. Get Connected with Tracy Hoth: Follow Tracy on Instagram Follow Tracy Hoth on LinkedIn Learn more about Tracy Hoth Visit Tracy's Podcast Enjoy a special gift from Tracy: The Only 5 Digital File Folders You'll Ever Need to Run a Smooth (and Profitable) Coaching Business Join The Disruptive Chronicles , where we help women entrepreneurs shift from fear to focused action and build businesses that scale with confidence and structure. 👉🏾 Sign up here: https://nikishaking.com/disruptive-chronicles

February 24, 202611 min

92: How to Stay Consistent on Instagram Without Burnout

If you feel inconsistent on Instagram or TikTok and don’t know why, this episode will shift everything. It's not about motivation, it's not about discipline, it's a system issue. When creating content from scratch every day, it's a struggle to be motivated and excited about your post. In Episode 92 of the ICONIK CEO Podcast, we finish the RISE Framework with E: Elevate Through Systems and break down a simple, repeatable Instagram or TikTok content system designed specifically for service-based solopreneurs. If you are constantly: Starting from scratch every time you post Asking yourself what to say Feeling exhausted before you even record your content Struggling to stay visible consistently This episode gives you a clear workflow you can use immediately. Here's what you'll learn: Why inconsistency is a systems problem, not a mindset problem. How to record one 3-minute video and turn it into multiple pieces of content. How to use Instagram’s built-in tools to simplify editing. How to remove friction so consistency becomes automatic. Why systems remove burnout and build momentum. If you missed the prompts referenced in this episode, revisit: Episode 90 Episode 91 We also have a step-by-step walkthrough video showing you how to record one 3-minute video and turn it into multiple pieces of content: Download your Free Content Generation System .

February 10, 202610 min

91: How to Show Up with Confidence When Being Visible Feels Scary

For many women creative entrepreneurs, visibility is not a strategy problem. It’s a confidence problem. If showing up online feels heavy and awkward, welcome to this week's episode. Today's episode is about giving yourself permission to show up as you are. In this episode of the ICONIK CEO Podcast, Nikisha King breaks down the S in the R.I.S.E. Framework, Show Up with Confidence . Confidence is not being perfect or outgoing. It’s choosing to be seen even when fear is still there. Nikisha talks about: Why visibility feels scary for so many women. That fear doesn’t disappear just because you start a business. You’ll learn how confidence is built through small steps, safety, and honesty, not overnight change.

January 20, 202618 min

90: Why You’re Posting Everywhere but Still Not Getting Leads

Many creative entrepreneurs are doing everything they’re told to do. They’re posting on Instagram, showing up on LinkedIn, sending emails, networking, and still wondering why the results don’t match the effort. In this episode of the ICONIK CEO Podcast , Nikisha King breaks down a truth most people skip over when it comes to lead generation: the problem often isn’t visibility, it’s who you’re talking to . This conversation dives into the Identify Your People phase of the R. I .S.E. framework and explains why your message can feel like it’s floating in the air, heard by everyone and landing with no one. When your visibility isn’t focused, your content becomes easy to scroll past, even when it’s valuable. Nikisha explains how lead generation improves when entrepreneurs stop performing for “everyone” and start connecting deeply with the right people. This episode reframes identifying your audience, not as limiting your business, but as anchoring your message so it finally lands. If your content feels inconsistent, your engagement feels low, or inquiries don’t reflect the work you’re putting in, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening and how to shift it. Questions that are answered in this episode: Why posting more doesn’t automatically create more leads? How unclear messaging keeps you invisible, even when you’re showing up? What it really means to “identify your people” beyond demographics? Why emotional and behavioral clarity creates stronger connections? How focused visibility turns content into conversations, and conversations into clients? Join The Disruptive Chronicles , where solopreneurs learn how to move from fear into focused action, build confidence in their message, and create visibility that actually leads to clients. 👉🏾 Sign up here: https://nikishaking.com/disruptive-chronicles