In this episode of Traversing Entrepreneurship, Derek Dall’Olmo interviews Katie Brinkley, founder of NextStep Social and Podcasting. They explore Brinkley’s journey from aspiring sports reporter to agency owner, how she scaled her business from a solo venture to a team of eight, and the strategies that have helped her thrive in a competitive, male-dominated industry. Brinkley shares lessons on team building, company culture, leveraging social media for business growth, and defining success on her own terms.
Key Moments:
• Katie Brinkley’s Career Journey: From Denver to Sports Media
• Transition from Radio to TV Marketing and the Birth of NextStep Social
• Scaling from Solopreneur to Agency Owner
• Standing Out in Male-Dominated Industries
• Defining Success Through Freedom and Flexibility
• Building a Strong Team and Company Culture
• Evolution of Social Media: From MySpace to Modern Platforms
• NextStep Social’s Marketing Strategy and VIP Days
• Sales Pipeline: Speaking, Networking, and Podcasting
• Balancing Business Ownership with Personal Life
• Advice for Entrepreneurs on Social Media Strategy
This episode provides actionable insights for business owners on scaling a business, managing a team, and creating a marketing strategy that drives real growth. Like, subscribe, and comment to join the conversation!
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Connect with Katie Brinkley:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley/
Website: https://nextepsocial.com/
Connect with Derek Dall’Olmo, CFP®, EA:
Email: Derek@tremontefinancial.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekdallolmo/
Website: https://tremontefinancial.com/about-us/
About TreMonte and Traversing Entrepreneurship Podcast
Traversing Entrepreneurship is a show for and about business owners in Traverse City, Michigan and beyond. In each episode, co-hosts Derek Dall’Olmo and Melissa Niedzielski sit down with local business owners and the professionals who serve them to talk about business building, life, money, taxes, family — and all the ups and downs that come with doing something different. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired about what might be possible in your own business.
Derek and Melissa work together at TreMonte Financial Consultants, LLC and TreMonte TreMonte Tax Solutions, LLC (together referred to as “TreMonte”). TreMonte works with business owners and entrepreneurs to develop a proactive tax strategy that maximizes after-tax profits. It is TreMonte’s goal to bridge the gap between Financial Advisors and Accountants by serving as CFO to their clients.
This show is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as personalized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. You should always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation.
Please email Derek Dall’Olmo at derek@tremontefinancial.com with questions and comments or to schedule a one-on-one conversation.
TreMonte Facebook Page | Follow Derek on LinkedIn | Follow Melissa on LinkedIn
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