Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephanie Georgakopoulos, Owner of Financially EmpowHERed, located in Toledo, OH, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My company, Financially EmpowHERed, is a place where busy and ambitious female business owners come to feel knowledgeable and confident in their financial choices, have higher productivity in their business, and thus have more time to spend pursuing their passions. My signature program, Financially EmpowHERed Female, assists women with the challenge of not having enough time, clarity, or confidence to make decisions when converting their business revenue into personal wealth.

Tell us about yourself

About 10 years ago, I entered the industry to work specifically with women business owners because I wanted to make a difference, like many others; this was due to experiences I had personally. There were two pivotal events that led me to my calling.

The first actually did not happen to me directly. When I was growing up, I was raised by my Aunt, who is, in all aspects of the word- my mother. She is a beautiful, vibrant, smart, and savvy businesswoman who ran successful businesses with her significant other of 16 years. They grew the businesses to be profitable for over 12 years. Then one night, he had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital, where he stayed for 3 months. During that time, a cancer we didn't even know had spread through his body like wildfire. I was prepared to be my Mama's rock the day he died. I knew she would need me to be strong for her, but when she came home that day, her red-rimmed eyes were full of fear and fury instead of sadness. You see, behind her back, he had put everything in his son from his previous marriage's name. Her business, which was her baby (as we can all relate), the accounts, everything! Watching my Mama go through that heartache and turmoil and rebuilding herself and her life made me very aware of the difference between knowing how to grow a business- and knowing how to protect it, yourself, and prepare for the unknown future. She is such a phenomenally strong woman.

The second event came when it was time for me to utilize this life lesson. When I was in my mid-twenties, I was married, living in Miami, and running a moving and shipping company. I wanted to make sure I was protecting myself, my money, and my future. So I went to a financial advisor's office to start "adulting." Ladies, when I tell you that this man ignored me completely! He directed the whole conversation to my then-husband and would even use sports metaphors, but I don't like or play sports. So, I asked him to explain it another way, and do you know what he said??? He said, "Listen, I know math can be difficult for women to understand. But this is as easy as I can explain it." I was livid. I got up and walked right out of the room. He even had the audacity to tell my ex-husband that he thought I was rude, to which he said, "No, you were rude. She is not only very smart – she has an MBA- but she is the decision-maker. You were pitching the wrong person this whole time." I was enraged, insulted, infuriated. . . but at the end of the day… I was still the one suffering… why? Because my money was sitting in the bank doing nothing for me. That's when I knew I wanted to make a change in this industry. If this is how I was treated, then there were a plethora of women out there just like me – building a business, who wanted financial help with the money we earned. And you know what, ladies? 71% of women keep their money in the bank like I did. Coincidence? I don't think so.

So that's why I founded Financially EmpowHERed and began my Financially EmpowHERed Female program. I made a space where women could feel seen, heard, validated, appreciated, and ask questions in a fun environment. An empowering environment!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am currently publishing a book, which is a huge accomplishment for me, but mostly, my biggest accomplishment is being able to transform my client's relationship with money. They become confident in making decisions, they are able to stretch themselves and become clear on their true goals, and they start to enjoy the process of making, saving, and growing their wealth.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I would say that there are two that go hand in hand: scaling at the right time and learning how to delegate. When you own a small business, you are the go-to person for the entire business, but as you scale, you will have to learn how to delegate- you can't be everywhere all the time. There comes the point when you must expand, build teams, and make important changes to get to the next level. Having a great team will allow you to spend more time doing the things that really matter as an owner – growing your business and working on the vision.

You need to learn how to delegate- which can be incredibly hard for business owners to do. It's hard to let go of control, but getting the right people on board can help substantially. Learning how to delegate more and create strong teams that you can trust is tough. As a business owner, you need to be able to rely on your team to take care of things when you're not there. This can create a lot of stress! One false move can put you out of business, but one right move can propel you forward. Learning to scale at the right time and hiring the right team is hard. Fortunately, there are mentors and other business owners who have gone through the same things you are facing- never be afraid to ask for help!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don't wait until you feel ready; take imperfect action NOW.
  2. Get a mentor or a coach, and be coachable!
  3. Be your true authentic self. There are thousands of other people doing exactly what you do, but only you speak and act and have your take on what you do. The people who are attracted to come to work with you will be attracted to who you are, your values, and your mission. And those who don't are not your people... and trust me, you don't want those people. They will make your life hard. Be authentic and find great customers. It's the best.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://financiallyempowhered.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/financiallyempowhered
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieginc/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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