ICONIK CEO®

Hosted by Nikisha King

Business Entrepreneurship

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105

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Oct 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

October 6, 202648 min

Ep 104: You Can't Build a Business Alone: Sally Glick on Systems, Structure, and Letting Go

Most entrepreneurs start out wearing every hat. The visionary, the bookkeeper, the admin, the delivery person, and the one keeping everything moving smoothly, and for a while, that's survival, not growth. In this episode, Nikisha King talks with Sally Glick, a former CMO and partner at a New Jersey CPA firm, about the exact moment business owners realize running a business and building one that grows past them are two very different things. Sally grew up inside her father's accounting practice and spent 25 years building the brand, culture, and structure behind a firm that grew from 40 people to 100. She and Nikisha get into why so many business owners avoid structure until something breaks, and why the best time to fix a problem is before the storm hits, not during it. Sally's own metaphor says it best: nobody wants to fix the roof on a sunny day , but waiting until it's raining means you're repairing the ceiling too. The conversation goes deep into what actually blocks growth: holding onto every task yourself, needing to take individual credit instead of building a team, and mistaking "I built this" for "we built this." Connect with Sally Glick ROI-NJ (her writing, including the Wednesday's Women column): roi-nj.com Connect with Nikisha King Want to keep building with me after this episode? Here's where to find me and where to get into the room. Instagram: @nikisha.king LinkedIn Website: nikishaking.com Taking Action: Fully Booked Workshop . Tuesday, October 20th, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. We're hosting a full workshop on a Strategic Networking Marketing Plan for startups who are struggling to get leads. A full day working live on your strategic networking action plan, not a keynote and not a webinar. Space is limited to 12 women, with only 8 seats still open; registration is next Friday. Grab your seat here: Next Level - Fully Booked Workshop

September 29, 202627 min

Ep 103: Why Networking Isn't Working for You (And What Actually Fixes It)

Networking didn't come naturally to me. For years after becoming a stay-at-home mom, I isolated myself completely, running my business from behind closed doors and never stepping into a room to be seen. I didn't know it at the time, but that isolation was the exact opposite of networking, and it was quietly killing my business. In this episode, recorded on a walk instead of sitting isolated at my desk, I trace my own networking journey from volunteering at my daughters' school, to joining paid communities that didn't fit, to finally finding the right rooms. I'm honest about the networking groups that wasted a year of my time and money because I joined without asking what I actually needed from networking in the first place. That's the real reason so many business owners say networking isn't working for them: they're in the wrong room, asking the wrong question, or walking out the door without ever following up. I break networking down into three real questions every business owner should ask before walking into any room: What's your purpose for networking, what will make people remember you, and How do you show up in a way that actually gets you a return. I'm direct about the difference between networking the wrong way, cards out, no follow-up, no return, and networking the right way, where five real connections and consistent follow-up turn into referrals and recurring clients. Connect with Nikisha King Want to keep building with me after this episode? Here's where to find me and where to get into the room. Instagram: @nikisha.king LinkedIn Website: nikishaking.com Personal Invitation to Fully Booked Workshop: nextlevel.nikishaking.com/lead-gen-quiz Personal Invitation Fully Booked Workshop , Tuesday, October 20th, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, in person only . A full day of working, focusing on a strategic networking marketing plan. This isn't a keynote; it's an action plan for you. Therefore, the space is limited to 12 women, and only 9 spots remain. Click here to learn more.

September 22, 202643 min

Ep 102: Grounded While Growing to 7-figures: How Energy Work Support Women in Business with Mary Kate Santulli

You're running on autopilot. Wake up, take off like a shot, push through the pressure, and call it discipline. Mary Kate Santulli did that for years, until a lightning-bolt moment behind the wheel of her car forced her to stop and ask who she actually was underneath all the roles she was playing. Nikisha King talks with Mary Kate, a clinical aromatherapist and Reiki master teacher based in Fanwood, New Jersey, about what it actually means to stay grounded while you build a business. Mary Kate owns Little Flower Essential Oil Blends and The Curious Heart Apothecary & Spiritual Center, a holistic wellness space in Fanwood with a retail location in Cranford, serving the greater North and Central Jersey area. She and Nikisha get into what Reiki is at its most basic level, how a dysregulated nervous system shows up in the decisions entrepreneurs make under pressure, and why pushing through isn't the same as being regulated. This conversation is for you as a female entrepreneur who's tired of white-knuckling your way through growth and wants real answers on how to stay present, make clearer decisions, and build without burning out. If you're looking for Reiki, energy work, or a spiritual community, this episode is also your introduction to where to find it. Connect with Mary Kate: A gift from Mary Kate: Energy Protection Meditation LinkedIn: Mary Kate Santulli Instagram: @thecuriousheartshop Connect with Nikisha King: Connect with Nikisha King Want to keep building with me after this episode? Here's where to find me and where to get into the room. Instagram: @nikisha.king On Linkedin.com Website: nikishaking.com Let's create your marketing plan at the Fully Booked Workshop

September 15, 202614 min

Ep 101: The Real Reason Networking Works and Social Media Doesn't!

If you're a business owner in start-up mode and you hate the idea of networking, you're not alone, BUT you're also leaving money on the table. In part two of this networking series, Nikisha King breaks down the three real reasons networking matters for service-based business owners who can't or won't pay for ads. First, networking builds trust faster than any bidding directory or online lead form ever will. When someone remembers your name and has a real conversation with you, they choose you over a stranger, and over a competitor at a lower price. Second, networking is market research in real time. A room full of people reacting to how you describe your business teaches you the exact words that make someone lean in, something a directory or a cold lead can never show you. Third, and most important, networking builds relationships that keep paying you back for years, not weeks, through referrals that compound the way social media followers never do. Nikisha also shares why she joined a networking community built around masculine energy, and what that taught her about the difference between feeling productive and actually taking action. The episode closes with an invitation to the Fully Booked Workshop on October 20th in Berkeley Heights, a hands-on mastermind day for 12 women business owners building their strategic networking action plan.

September 8, 202615 min

Ep 100: Five People, One Question: The Networking Strategy That Actually Books Clients

Most women business owners walk into a networking room and leave with a stack of cards and no real leads. You know the scene. Clusters of people talking, a plate of hors d'oeuvres, and that moment of deciding where to stand. You ask the question everyone asks, "what do you do," and you get a polite answer back. Nobody gets curious. Nobody remembers anybody. The cards end up in a drawer or lost in a contact list you never open again. In this episode, I break down why that happens and what to do instead. Networking for leads isn't about the exchange; it's about intentionality. Instead of asking what someone does, ask what brought them into the room tonight, or what part of their work lights them up right now. Those two questions build real connection in under sixty seconds, and they're the reason people remember you, refer you, and take your call afterward. I also walk you through the follow-up system that turns a business card into a client relationship: a same-day thank you, a scheduled check-in email three weeks later, and a simple yes-or-no decision about whether to stay connected. This episode is built for creative professionals and women business owners who are tired of posting on social media and calling it lead generation. AN INVITATION: You're invited to the in-person Fully Booked Workshop on Tuesday, October 20th, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey , where I teach 12 women how to turn networking into a strategic machine. Over $100K made just from networking, with no pay-to-play or paid ads. Click Here to learn more... Connect with Me: Instagram Website

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