Sara sits down with Teva Thompson, founder of a branding and operations company serving women-led businesses and nonprofits, to explore how she built her company slowly and intentionally while working full time and raising a family. They dig into the shift from surface-level branding to deep operational systems, the power of Lean Six Sigma thinking, and why creating supportive, women-centered business communities matters. The conversation closes with practical, actionable advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed about starting a sustainable business.
Show Notes
00:11 - Introducing today's theme: building with intention
00:15 - Meet Teva Thompson, founder supporting women-led businesses and nonprofits
00:33 - How she built her company slowly while working full time and raising a family
01:18 - Teva's journey: why she chose to build the brand slowly and sustainably
02:07 - How motherhood shaped her need for flexible systems and processes
03:05 - The shift from branding to full operational strategy
03:23 - What she noticed in clients who jump straight to logos without systems
04:26 - Sara shares her own experience focusing on aesthetics over substance
05:08 - How strong foundations create calmer, more confident business owners
06:07 - Introducing Lean Six Sigma certification and its role in her work
06:32 - What Lean Six Sigma really means: standards over perfection
07:25 - Common operational gaps she sees in small businesses
08:29 - Why systems should be flexible and grow alongside the business
09:16 - Why Teva intentionally focuses on serving women-led businesses
10:38 - Sara reflects on feeling dismissed in mixed-gender business spaces
11:25 - The value of safe, supportive spaces for women entrepreneurs
13:03 - Bigger picture: women's roles in solving issues like poverty and hunger
13:46 - Sara's story about a client bringing kids to a business conference
14:37 - What true flexibility looks like for working mothers
16:03 - Creating individualized systems that honor each person's needs
16:47 - How Teva stays grounded and avoids burnout
16:58 - The importance of guilt-free rest and self-care
17:37 - Travel as a form of solitude and recharging
18:07 - Sara's own reset ritual: phone-free dog walks
19:00 - Optimism about the next generation's approach to self-care
19:47 - Practical first step for anyone wanting to start a business
20:08 - Advice: find a mentor, research brands you admire, take notes
21:07 - How to connect with Teva and access a free brand consultation
22:08 - Closing thoughts: patience, community, and building something that lasts
SEO Description
Teva Thompson shares how she built a branding and operations company for women-led businesses slowly and intentionally while working full time and raising a family.
What is The Route to Success?
Success rarely follows a straight line.
On The Route to Success, I sit down each week with business owners, nonprofit leaders, founders, and changemakers from different backgrounds to talk about the real stories behind leadership, growth, hope, and resilience.
Together, we explore the challenges people do not always see. Burnout. Setbacks. Purpose. Wellness. Asking for help. Starting over. We also talk about the practical tools, decisions, and habits that helped each guest keep moving forward.
These are honest, thoughtful conversations. They are not polished stories about perfect success. They are real discussions about what it takes to lead, grow, and find hope during difficult seasons, with plenty of moments to connect and laugh along the way.
New episodes are released every Thursday.