Creating
Powerful
Impact
Podcast
with Shay
Wheat
The show where we look behind the scenes of why and how leaders are making an impact and how you can too.
Wealth and Community for Entrepreneurial Moms
with Shay Wheat, CEO, Grace & Ease Productions
and Erika Hanafin Feldhus CEO of Hey Mama
Imagine a world where only a tiny fraction of venture funding lands in the hands of women, and an even tinier slice is given to moms.
Today, on Creating Powerful Impact, we tackle this harsh reality with Erika CEO of HeyMama, a thriving community of over 75,000 working moms.
Erika exposes the alarming statistic that less than 2% of venture capital goes to women.
However, HeyMama is empowering moms through leadership, collaboration, mentorship, and fundraising.
Discover how their members have raised over $20 million collectively and explore alternative funding avenues like crowdfunding and grants.
Erika stresses the importance of self-care, self-worth, and self-compassion for entrepreneurial moms.
Financial literacy is crucial for women aiming for business success, and this episode breaks down why understanding financial statements, projections, and valuations is essential when seeking external funding.
We discuss the value of supportive communities like HeyMama in combating the isolation often felt by solo entrepreneurs.
Learn how nurturing relationships within women-centric networks, leveraging the innate leadership skills of mothers, and weaving compassion into business practices can foster personal and professional growth.
Join us for an inspiring conversation that aims to unlock new paths for women in business funding and growth.
Key Moments:
(00:01 – 00:52) Venture Funding Disparities for Women
(07:10 – 08:18) Importance of Utilizing Business Funding
(12:49 – 13:31) Utilizing Referral Base in Business
(19:00 – 21:22) Connecting for Business Success
Erika Hanafin Feldhus is a devoted mom, sophisticated business leader, startup advisor, and compassionate advocate for women in business.
Growing up in a family of successful CEOs, Erika was enriched with the intricate details of running successful businesses through observation, higher education, and extensive experience.
Over the past 15 years, she has played a pivotal role in growing small businesses across various industries, with a focus on business development, research and data, operations, revenue management, and an expertise in diverse fundraising models. Erika’s success is underscored by her involvement in four significant corporate acquisitions, three of which she was instrumental in leading.
Through her experiences, Erika has learned that a company’s culture is fundamental to its success.
She is committed to fostering supportive and healthy corporate cultures across the world by empowering women through leadership, collaboration, philanthropy, mentorship, and fundraising.
This passion led her to the helm of HeyMama, a membership community of over 75,000 working moms with events and programs impacting over 400 million moms. In just three years as CEO, Erika transformed the distressed company, marking it as her fourth acquisition.
Recognized for Excellence in Business by the National Association of Professional Women VIP Awards, Erika has also earned President’s Club and Knights of the Roundtable awards.
Beyond her professional achievements, Erika is the Chairman of EQUI-KIDS, is a Certified Holistic Health Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and is dedicated to supporting divorced and co-parenting businesswomen like herself to navigate the delicate balance between high-pressure careers and crucial roles at home.
Connect with Erika: erikafeldhus.com
https://www.facebook.com/heymamaco/
Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.
Want to learn more about Shay and her work?
Check out Grace and Ease Productions at https://graceandeaseproductions.com/