Renee Speaks

Hosted by Executive Help Now | Host: Renee Hastings

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Episodes

147

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

We are for ambitious entrepreneurs, enterprising businesses, and creative podcast producers who need to embody operational excellence (and know the cost of not doing it right)...Renee Speaks, powered by Livestream Editors, is your go-to weekly podcast for entrepreneurial encouragement and support to make life easier and better because being a leader is a tough job, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 29, 202633 min

Powering Startup Dreams Today with Nate Littlewood | EP 149

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we sit down with Nate Littlewood, founder of Future Ready CFO, who helps purpose‑led founders in the eCommerce and CPG space achieve their business and financial goals by bringing clarity to their numbers.Unlike many CFOs, Nate has “walked the walk”—bootstrapping his own eCommerce business, serving as Lead Mentor for a NYC‑based startup accelerator, and spending nearly a decade on Wall Street before becoming an entrepreneur. Through content, courses, and 1:1 coaching, he is on a mission to make finance education more accessible and to help end finance as the #1 reason startups fail.In Powering Startup Dreams Today, Nate shares how founders can use financial data to make smarter decisions, scale with confidence, and turn their vision into sustainable success.

May 22, 202632 min

Funding Futures, Building Impact with Sara Orellana | EP 148

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we sit down with Sara Orellana—founder of 3Raptor Consulting and Sincerely Sara O, with over 18 years of expertise in grant writing and nonprofit consultancy.Sara has secured more than $50 million in funding through her data‑driven, analytical approach, while also advising small businesses through her work with the SBDC and SBA. With advanced degrees in English Literature, Social and Community Services, and Epidemiology, she empowers organizations to build clear, impactful donor relationships using science‑backed methodologies and SMART goals.A leader and mentor, Sara has served as the inaugural chair of the Oklahoma Healthy Brain Coalition and is a Certified Executive Mentor and Wellness Coach. In Funding Futures, Building Impact, she shares how nonprofits and businesses alike can achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence.

May 15, 202637 min

Real Estate That Builds Wealth with David Cinelli | EP 147

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we sit down with David Cinelli—one of Canada’s top 1% Realtors®, HGTV co‑host, and trusted advisor with nearly 20 years of experience.David is known for making complex real estate concepts simple and actionable, blending data, expertise, and human connection. From behind‑the‑scenes insights into Toronto’s luxury market to practical strategies for smarter investing, he delivers with clarity, authenticity, and contagious energy.In Real Estate That Builds Wealth, David shares how to navigate the market, invest wisely, and create long‑term value through real estate.

May 8, 20261 hr 3 min

How We Got Here: Founder Stories of Growth with Khalilah Shakir Lyons | EP 146

Renee Speaks welcomes Khalilah Shakir Lyons, founder of Answer the Moment™—a leadership and culture firm helping individuals and organizations align purpose with performance.With a gift for turning complexity into clarity, Khalilah has guided leaders across industries to replace exhaustion with purpose and transform awareness into sustainable action. Recognized as a Mogul Top 100 DEI Leader and 2024 Corporate Woman of Achievement, she brings both credibility and heart to every conversation.In this episode, we uncover her journey, her frameworks like B_List Living™, and the lessons that help leaders grow with confidence, clarity, and humanity.

May 1, 202652 min

Hire Smarter, Grow Faster with EA Clarke | EP 145

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we’re joined by EA Clarke, a leader in recruitment strategy and the founder of Pivot + Edge, to talk about how hiring the right people can make or break your growth.With over 30 years of experience and a background in building and scaling startups—including helping raise nearly $14M—EA shares practical insights on how leaders can move beyond hiring from their immediate networks and start attracting the right talent at scale.We dive into what it really takes to build a strong team, how to position your company to stand out to top candidates, and why your company story is one of your most powerful hiring tools.If you’re a founder, executive, or growing team looking to hire smarter and grow faster, this conversation is for you.

April 24, 202639 min

From Besties to Business with Alyssa Evans | EP 142

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we sit down with Alyssa Evans, creative strategist and designer, who proves that affiliate partnerships with your besties are the ultimate hype girl energy.Alyssa’s journey as a working mom led her to restructure her life—transitioning to working from home, building her business with intention, and asking the critical questions that shaped her path: What’s the life I want to live? What’s going to give me maximum impact?In From Besties to Business, she shares how necessity turned into intentional design, and how women can create ecosystems that support growth, balance, and freedom.This episode is for dreamers, builders, and changemakers ready to design a life that serves every goal—not just business goals.

April 17, 202634 min

Stop Guessing, Start Scaling with Carol Kabaale | EP 140

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we sit down with Carol Kabaale, Fractional CMO and Visibility Architect, who helps coaches, consultants, and course creators build predictable lead generation systems through paid advertising.Since founding Best Ads in 2019, Carol has managed over $3.9 million in paid media campaigns across the UK and USA. Her proprietary Data‑Led Visibility Calibration methodology moves business owners beyond organic‑only approaches into strategic paid infrastructure that delivers consistent, qualified leads—without the guesswork.In Stop Guessing, Start Scaling, Carol shares how evidence‑based strategy, calm execution, and smart visibility systems can transform growth for entrepreneurs ready to be found by the right people.

April 10, 202637 min

Beyond Capital: Communication as Leadership with Liana Zavo | EP 140

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we sit down with Liana Zavo—media specialist, branding expert, PR strategist, and AI business consultant.As founder of ZavoMedia PR Group and ZavoVentures, Liana is pioneering a VC‑PR hybrid model that integrates legal readiness, fundraising support, and strategic communications for early‑stage startups. Her work shows that beyond capital, communication is the true driver of leadership and growth.In Beyond Capital: Communication as Leadership, we explore how storytelling, branding, and influence empower founders to attract investment, scale smarter, and lead with confidence.This episode is for entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders ready to master both capital and communication in today’s fast‑moving business world.📅 April 10⏰ 1:00 PM EST📍 Streaming on the Renee Speaks Facebook Page & YouTube Channel

April 3, 202659 min

The Growth Blueprint with Jennifer Kelly | EP 139

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we sit down with Jen Kelly, founder of New Initiatives Marketing Inc., where she and her team serve as the marketing department for mid‑market B2B companies that don’t have one.With 17 years of corporate marketing experience at the Financial Times, Siemens, and Motorola, Jen specializes in building the strategy, systems, and sales enablement that turn marketing into a true revenue engine. Based in Toronto, she works exclusively with technical, industrial, and consulting engineering firms—helping them move beyond the limits of a CEO’s network and a sales team’s hustle to create scalable infrastructure for sustainable growth.In The Growth Blueprint, Jen shares how B2B companies can unlock predictable growth by treating marketing as a system, not a side project.

March 27, 202625 min

Innovation, Insight, & Influence with Rachel Allen | EP 140

In this episode of Renee Speaks, we sit down with Rachel Allen, a fast‑thinking marketer with 16 years of experience helping businesses around the world grow with clarity and impact.Rachel has worked with clients in 21+ countries, from top entrepreneurs and influencers to brick‑and‑mortar businesses and non‑profits. Her data‑driven yet human‑centered approach has fueled high‑ROI launches, boosted audience engagement, and built relationships with leading venture capital firms.In Innovation, Insight, & Influence, Rachel shares how marketing can be both deeply strategic and authentically human—and why influence today is about more than just reach, it’s about resonance.This episode is for entrepreneurs, leaders, and creatives who want to harness marketing as a tool for growth, connection, and lasting impact.📅 March 27⏰ 1:00 PM EST📍 Streaming on the Renee Speaks Facebook Page & YouTube Channel