Small Biz Catalyst
Hello and welcome to Small Biz Catalysts. This show is for struggling small business owners who want to be able to earn a consistent 6 figure salary from their businesses and the economic development professionals who support them.
Explore with us as we delve into innovative strategies, success stories and actionable insights to empower small businesses as catalysts for economic resilience.
Your host, Ayisat Abilogun is a Certified Entrepreneurship Development Professional and the CEO of Financial Leadership Club of America.
Ayisat loves helping small business owners stay resilient so that their business can move past stagnation to growth phase.
In the last 5 years, Ayisat has empowered over 20,000 students and business owner through financial leadership courses, workshops and curriculum.
Let's help your business move from wistful to wellspring.
Stay with us as we delve into today's topic.
Episodes
68 episodes
Fear Is Not the Enemy: How to Use It as Fuel
Every entrepreneur knows the feeling: the great idea that sits untouched because fear won't let you move. In this episode of The Small Biz Catalyst, Ayisat Abilogun reframes fear as data, not a dead end, and gives you five moves to turn it into...
From Side Hustle to Seven Figures - The Ice Shaker Story: Startup to Success Series #66.mp4
Chris Gronkowski went from NFL fullback to DFW entrepreneur after one sweaty gym session gave him an idea nobody had solved. In this episode of The Small Biz Catalyst, he breaks down how he built Ice Shaker from a spare bedroom side hustle to a...
Tariffs & Your Small Business: What You Need to Know Right Now #65
Tariffs are no longer just an economic headline. They're showing up in your invoices, your vendor conversations, and your cash flow right now. In this solo deep-dive, host Ayisat Abilogun breaks down exactly what the current tariff landscape me...
Discovering Selma, TX: A Business-Friendly City #64
Mayor Tom Daly of Selma, Texas, shares the city's growth as a business hub. The conversation highlights Selma's welcoming environment for entrepreneurs, the cultural initiatives that enhance economic growth, and success stories of local busines...
Harnessing AI for Small Business and Economic Development Success with Katie Milton Jordan. E63
In this conversation, Ayisat and Katie discuss how Small Business owners and economic development professionals can leverage AI for growth and efficiency, starting with people and processes. They explore the psychological aspects of adopting AI...
Beyond the Celebration: The Business of Black History #62
In this special Black History Month episode of Small Biz Catalyst, host Ayisat Abilogun takes a thoughtful look at the origins of Black History Month and its evolving role in shaping economic opportunity for Black communities.As a first-...
What if entrepreneurship wasn’t an elective with Jeff Meade #61
What if entrepreneurship wasn’t an elective—but the foundation of education?In this episode of Small Biz Catalyst, host Ayisat Abilogun sits down with Jeff Meade, Executive Director of the Every Quinnite Is an En...
How Podcasting Can Transform Your Business Growth Strategy with Greg Wasserman #60
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just thinking about launching your show, this episode will show you how to make podcasting work for your business growth, not against your schedule.Listen now to learn how to:✅ Turn your p...
City of Irving Spotlight on Small Business support #59
Want to start a small business in Irving, TX? Here's what you need to know.In this episode of Small Biz Catalyst, host Ayisat Abilogun sits down with the Mayor of Irving, TX; the City Manager, Asst. City Manager, Economic Development Cor...
Welcome to 2026 - Changes to Small Biz Catalyst and why #58
Happy New Year! We are keeping our promise to you and we invite you to join us this year as we serve you more. In this episode, Ayisat shares some upcoming changes to the podcast and why those changes have been adopted. We look forward to servi...
How to future proof your business with Allister Frost E57
Is your business truly future-ready? In this episode of Small Biz Catalyst, host Ayisat Abilogun sits down with Allister Frost, former Microsoft leader, author of Ready Already, and expert in digital transformation to unpack how sma...
Truth or Dare (Fear) - Overcoming Fear: A Journey of Self-Discovery #56
Fear can shape our beliefs and actions. Through personal anecdotes, particularly about teaching her daughter to drive, Ayisat illustrates how fear can hold us back from achieving our goals. The conversation emphasizes the importance of taking s...
How to apply for StartHer grant for women owned business with Tracy Irby #55
Getting a grant for your small business could be daunting. Do you know that you can easily qualify and apply for the StartHer grant?Tracy Irby discusses grant opportunities for women entrepreneurs, focusing on the Start Her grant. Tracy ...
How to make the internship experience effective for your business and the intern #54
These 5 strategic moves will help you learn how to create a positive internship and virtual assistant experience to drive revenue. Ayisat emphasizes the importance of clarifying roles, developing onboarding systems, tracking work, and providing...
Unlock Your Leadership Potential: Insights from Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew's 'Front Porch Wisdom' #53
Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew shares her insights on the unique challenges faced by women of color in leadership roles. She discusses her new book, 'Front Porch Wisdom,' which draws on personal stories and faith to provide guidance and res...
A spotlight on Austin Texas #52
Ayisat Abilogun discusses the entrepreneurial landscape in Austin, Texas, highlighting its vibrant ecosystem, resources for startups, and the challenges posed by the cost of living. The episode also features grant opportunities available for en...
Could your faith affect your business? A Personal Journey #51
Could faith and business go hand in hard? In this episode, Ayisat Abilogun explores the profound impact of faith on business practices and personal identity. She shares her journey of faith, from her upbringing in a Muslim household to her rela...
#50: A collection of lessons from the past year - Happy 1 year Small Biz Catalyst
In this episode of Small Biz Catalyst, host Ayisat Abilagun reflects on the first fifty episodes, celebrating the insights shared by guests and emphasizing the importance of cash flow, marketing, and community support for small busin...
#49: What you need to know about Economic Development as an Entrepreneur
In this episode of Small Biz Catalyst, Ayisat Abilogun discusses the crucial role of economic development corporations (EDCs) in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship. She emphasizes that economic development is fundamenta...
#48: Start up to Success Series 1 - Siete Family Foods
In this episode of Small Biz Catalyst, Ayisat introduces the Startup to Success series, highlighting the journeys of entrepreneurs who have turned challenges into successful businesses. The episode features Veronica Garza of Siete Fa...
#47: Spotlight on Grapevine, TX: A Small Business Haven
In this episode of Small Biz Catalyst, Ayisat Abilogun introduces Grapevine, Texas, highlighting its charm, economic opportunities, and support for small businesses. The discussion covers the city's leadership, economic development i...
#46: Tribe & Triumph with Angela Seaman: How to Build Your Tribe and Leverage WBE Certification
In this episode, Ayisat Abilogun and Angela Seaman discuss the significance of Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification for women entrepreneurs. They explore the certification process, debunk common myths, and emphasize the impo...
#45: Tag a business
Hey Dear, If you're just joining us, this is Small Bis Catalyst. We want to invite you to our Tag a business team. Here's what you need to do. Nominate a small business of your choice, tag them on our website at smallbizc...
#44: Disruptive Leadership - Empowering Teams Through Disruption to create breakthroughs
SummaryIn this episode of Small Biz Catalyst, host Ayisat Abilogun and guest Ted Santos delve into the concept of disruptive leadership. They discuss how leaders can intentionally create problems for their teams to fost...
#43: Funding the dream: Navigating Texas Funding Opportunities
This episode of Small Biz Catalyst delves into the funding landscape for Texas entrepreneurs, highlighting the state's position in venture capital, showcasing success stories of local startups, and providing insights into what invest...