Resources mentioned:
Entreprenista listeners can receive 30% off your The Breadwinners annual subscription here.
“The end goal and the mission for why we exist is to create a safe space where the community replaces guilt with a sense of agency and confidence.”
In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, Alexis shares her journey from corporate executive to founder, the unexpected lessons she learned after stepping away from a career she spent decades building, and how a single dinner sparked a movement. She opens up about the realities of building a business while raising three young children, navigating the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and why she's committed to creating intimate, intentional spaces where women can connect authentically.
Alexis and Stephanie also discuss the evolving definition of ambition, the power of community-first business building, leveraging AI tools like Claude to launch and grow a company, the future of education in an AI-driven world, and why meaningful in-person connections matter more than ever.
What We Talked About:
Creating a Safe Space for Women [2:11]
The Birth of The Breadwinners [10:35]
Building a Community from Scratch [23:15]
Leveraging AI Tools for Business Efficiency [30:48]
The Importance of Giving in Community [39:14]
Exploring Substack as a Creative Outlet [43:29]
Connect with Alexis:
@wearethebreadwinners on Instagram
Alexis Contos on LinkedIn
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.
Guests
Alexis Contos
Hosts
Stephanie Cartin
Co-founder of Socialfly and Entreprenista.
Stephanie Cartin is the co-founder and CEO of Entreprenista, an all-in-one platform – which includes a private community & business membership called The Entreprenista League that's made up of over 2,000 women founders at all stages of business, a weekly newsletter received by 60,000 readers, two podcasts, in-person educational & networking events, and an award program – that women founders at all stages can turn to for everything they need to grow.
Stephanie is also the co-founder of Socialfly (acquired by Truform Media Group in 2024), Markid, and Pearl Influential Capital. She has won countless awards, including the SmartCEO Brava award, which recognizes the top women CEOs in New York, and a Stevie Award for Women-Run Workplace of the Year. She has also appeared in Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Refinery29, and more.
Courtney Spritzer
Co-founder of Entreprenista.
Courtney Spritzer is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, author, and community builder with a passion for creating brands and platforms that empower women to lead, grow, and thrive.
In 2012, she co-founded Socialfly, a leading social-first digital and influencer marketing agency. Over the course of a decade, she helped scale the business into an award-winning agency working with Fortune 500 brands and emerging startups, building a powerhouse team and culture along the way. In 2024, Socialfly was acquired.
In 2018, Courtney launched the Entreprenista Podcast to spotlight the stories of inspiring women founders. That passion evolved into Entreprenista Media in 2021, a media platform and community supporting women entrepreneurs at every stage of growth. She now co-leads the continued expansion of The Entreprenista League, a membership-driven community and ecosystem for founders.
As an angel investor, Courtney supports female-led and mission-driven startups aligned with her vision for a more inclusive and equitable business landscape.
She is the co-author of Like, Love, Follow: The Entreprenista’s Guide to Using Social Media to Grow Your Business (2015), a strategic guide for leveraging social platforms to drive business success.
Her work and ventures have been featured in Bloomberg, Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and The New York Times. She is committed to championing visionary founders and helping build the next generation of impactful, community-driven businesses.
Join 2,000+ supportive, ambitious founders in the
Highlights
The Latest
Heather Lillico Helps Burnt-Out Founders Rewire Their Nervous Systems
The former nutritionist burnt out building her nutrition business, and the tools that brought her back to calm now anchor her coaching for women founders.
Elizabeth Watson Helps Founders Recover Their Lost Energy
Automate Your Site with a 1-Month Free Trial
Kartra