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The Small Biz Podcast! Virtual Coffee is dedicated to showcasing accomplished and innovative small business owners and accelerating YOU! Hosted by Alexa Colyer, Virtual Coffee shares interviews with small business owners and early career professionals. Alexa and guests discuss their journeys, perspectives, and advice to others. Alexa also does solo episodes, during which she shares frameworks, advice, and perspectives to accelerate you in your work and life.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
On this solo episode of Virtual Coffee, I kicked off my series of episodes on the Design Thinking process / model. We discuss the first stage of the model: empathize. As a small business owner or someone who is trying to bring value to people, it is imperative to dig deep into the minds and lives of your end users, customers, and clients. Tune into this episode to further understand the importance of building empathy and how it can impact the product, service, or offering you bring to the world. Happy listening!
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Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
On this episode of Virtual Coffee, I chatted with Sarah Henry, the Founder and Owner of Scripted Swirls. Sarah started her business at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when she was looking for a hobby to pick up. She remembered how she used to letter for her sorority and decided to reignite that passion. Sarah sells hand lettered signs for weddings, home decor, and even bridal jackets. I’m excited to dive into her journey, advice for others, and plans for the future. Be sure to check out Scripted Swirls at https://www.scriptedswirls.com/, and happy listening!
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Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
On this episode of Virtual Coffee, I chatted with Amanda Turano, the Founder and Owner of Sometime in January. Amanda digitally draws designs that inspire her and express how she’s feeling. She then sells her designs on various products such as crewnecks, cups, and hats. In this episode, she dives into her journey of finding her passion for graphic design and how she balances her full time job with running her small business. Amanda has a ton of advice for others wanting to follow their passions, and be sure to check out Sometime in January at https://www.sometimeinjanuary.com/. Happy listening!
Sometime in January's Instagram
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Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
On this solo episode of Virtual Coffee, I continued our "Featured Framework" series by showcasing the Ten Types of Innovation. Ten Types is a framework that was introduced to the world by Doblin, a global innovation firm. This frameworks helps you look at industry trends to understand how companies are innovating, and, in turn, you can identify innovation gaps that you, your business, and/or your product or service can fulfill. This is an impactful framework that is fun to dive into. Enjoy this introduction to Ten Types, and happy listening!
Doblin's Ten Types of Innovation website
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Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
On this episode of Virtual Coffee, I sat down with my colleague, Jeremy Smith, to chat about the Enneagram. Be sure to check out episode 66 of the podcast for a solo episode introducing the Enneagram - that's also where I shouted Jeremy which hopefully played a part in convincing him to be a guest on today's episode.
Jeremy is a very talented designer who really focuses on bringing a human element, empathy-first mindset to his designs. He bases all of his work on user research, and he is an incredible colleague and friend. In the office, we often discuss the Enneagram and how to apply it to our day-to-day lives, and that’s what we dive into in this episode. Jeremy discusses how he first discovered the Enneagram, how he applies it to his life and work, and resources he suggests for anyone wanting to learn about the Enneagram themselves. You can connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremysmithdesign/. Happy listening!
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Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
On this episode of Virtual Coffee, I interviewed Ellen Barrett, Co-Founder and Owner of Barrett’s Cookies and Biscuits. Ellen grew up watching and helping her grandmothers bake and run their own businesses, and they are who inspired Ellen to turn her baking passion into a small business. Through Barrett’s, Ellen sells handmade cookies and biscuits which you can order directly from her or buy at The Optimist and Raleigh Cheesy here in Raleigh North Carolina. Check out Barrett's at https://barrettscookies.com/, and happy listening!
Barrett's Cookies & Biscuit's Instagram
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Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
On this episode of Virtual Coffee, I interviewed Kay Leggett, the Founder and Owner of The House Plant Hippie. Kay grew up surrounded by plants, and when her dance career was put on pause due to the pandemic, she decided to go back to her roots, quite literally! Through The House Plant Hippie, Kay sells house plants via her plant truck that she drives to various markets in the Raleigh area. She also has plant consultation services and has some new offerings being launched soon which she discusses in this episode. Check out The House Plant Hippie at https://thehouseplanthippie.com/, and happy listening!
The House Plant Hippie's Instagram
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Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
On this episode of Virtual Coffee, I share some of my favorite products that help me stay productive and bring me happiness throughout my day (most products linked below). I tried something new and recorded this episode on my AirPods instead of my Yeti podcast microphone, so let me know what you think of this casual, lo-fi episode. Happy listening, y'all!
~ not sponsored ~
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Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
On this solo episode of Virtual Coffee, I dive into the Enneagram. This is a topic that has been on my mind lately, and I've recently dived into the Enneagram with some of my coworkers. I share what the Enneagram is, the history behind it, my type, and best practices on how to use the types in your day-to-day life. What's your Enneagram? Are there any fellow 1's out there? Let me know in a review, and happy listening!
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Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
On this episode of Virtual Coffee, I interviewed Rosario Picone and Devraj Thakkar, the Founders and Owners of Siesta Wrap. These two friends founded their business when they were just in high school. They were traveling on a school bus in the early morning in the cold Chicago winter and needed a solution to help them sleep and stay warm. That’s how Siesta Wrap was born! They are now headed to college this upcoming fall, and I’m excited to see what amazing things they do next with Siesta Wrap and beyond. Be sure to check out Siesta Wrap at https://www.siestawrap.com/, and happy listening!
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