{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Breaking Precedent","title":"Breaking Up the Boys' Club: Stephanie Cartin on Building the Entreprenista Movement","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2844,"description":"What does it take to quit your job, skip venture capital entirely, and build two seven-figure businesses on relationships alone?\nOn Breaking Precedent, Leah Solivan talks with Stephanie Cartin, co-founder of Socialfly and Entreprenista, about the day she and co-founder Courtney quit their jobs, May 4, 2012, after ten months of building a social media agency on nights and weekends. Stephanie traces the thread from performing as a child actress in the Washington, DC area, to a Disney Vacation Club presentation at age 11 that led her to Cornell's hotel school and a career at Marriott, to spotting social media's business potential as an early Facebook user. She explains how one networking group, mentor Carrie Kerpen, and the book Built to Sell shaped a fully bootstrapped, all-women agency that grew to seven figures without outside funding.\nStephanie then shares why she split from the agency in 2021 to build Entreprenista into a media company and membership community, the Entreprenista League, now 4,500 members strong, focused on connection, resources, and visibility. She and Leah dig into what still holds women founders back, alternative paths to capital, why AI is leveling the playing field for small businesses, and why she believes real human connection, and in-person community, is the opportunity AI can't replace.\nKey Insights\nA calculated leap is different from a reckless one: Stephanie and Courtney built for ten months on the side and made a plan before quitting.\nRelationships compound. A contact from age 11, a friend's mom's old client, and one networking group opened nearly every early door.\nYou don't need to be the smartest person in the room. Learn from people who have already built businesses, even in other industries.\nBootstrapping is a real strategy. Most women-owned businesses are not venture-funded, and debt can work when it funds real growth.\nBuild a sellable asset, not just a job for yourself.\nAI can level the playing field on operations, but it can't...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ZnB7esk3hxfFIoNnysnaXcdcNStXN6Vgj5GFpWxsycY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hZTZl/N2FhYTdlYjFlYjNj/MjZjZjU3MGMxYWM0/YWVlZC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}