Nikki Rogers: Your business is an asset that can support a thriving life. I believe this, and I'm committed to making this a reality for every entrepreneur and business owner who listens to this podcast. The Women Thriving in Business Podcast was created with you in mind, whether you were thinking about entrepreneurship or you're a business veteran, this podcast has inspiration, information, and advice you can use to thrive in business.
Women Thriving in Business features candid, unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics who will contribute to your business success. I seek out and talk with business leaders who have built, grown, and thrive in business. My name is Nikki Rogers, transformation coach, author, and the host of the Women Thriving in Business Podcast. I work with women entrepreneurs to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Join me and your fellow Thrivers each week on this journey of discovery and success.
Welcome to this week's episode of Women Thriving in Business Podcast. I am your host, Nikki Rogers. And I'm just excited to be with you this week. This episode marks the one-year anniversary of Women Thriving in Business. And I have to say that this year has passed by really quickly, and I have learned so much. I've met some great guests, created some great relationships, learned a lot about the different businesses that women are engaged in and thriving in. It has been a great way to make connections and have something to always talk about. And I'm looking forward to even more great guests in the next season. As I think over the past year, I think back to October 2020, when I was starting to plan and prepare for the podcast, I was attending a conference virtually and just took a leap of faith and put it out there on the discussion board collaboration app that we're using that I was starting a podcast and that I was looking for guests. And people signed up to be guests. And that was just the start of it.
I started doing recording interviews in November and December of 2020. And officially launched in January of 2021. I remember that first week when I published the first episode, I felt like I had given birth and that I was seeing my baby show up in real life, in human form. But it was really tangible at that moment when that first episode went live. And even more so when people started saying that they were listening to the episode and see the episodes and that it was actually providing some good information, some insights, some inspiration for them because that was really the purpose of starting the Women Thriving in Business Podcast.
I am so grateful to all the listeners who have supported the podcast throughout the past year, who have listened, who have shared, who have provided commentary, who have provided a word of encouragement if they met me or talked to me at any time throughout the year. So I just really celebrate all of you. All my listeners, I appreciate you and looking forward to even more great guests and episodes in Season 5. I do want to give a shout-out to two people, Latika Vines and Eleshia Harris who have been here from the very beginning. They were very helpful in planning and encouraging me to start the podcast. I really can say I would not be here at this moment, celebrating one year, had it not been for them. And then I also have to give a shout-out to Anne Garcia, my editor, and coordinator, she and her team of Dklutr Philippines have been excellent partners on this journey. And I look forward to continuing to work with them.
Now, getting into this week's episode, I have a very special guest with me to celebrate this one-year anniversary. My son, Dillon, is actually joining me as a co-host today and is going to interview me. So I'll be on the other side of the mic for this week's episode. Again, thank you so much for listening to the podcast over this past year. Stay tuned for the debut of Season 5 in the coming weeks. And in the meantime, let's get into this episode where Dillon, like I said, turns the tables and asked me his questions, his burning questions, about the podcast and my business. Let's go.
Nikki Rogers: Welcome Thrivers to this week's episode of Women Thriving in Business Podcast. I'm so excited to be here with you today. This is the one-year anniversary episode for Women Thriving in Business. And in celebration of that one-year anniversary, I've invited a special co-host, my son, Dillon, in order for him to come in and interview me. So welcome, Dillon, to the podcast.
Dillon: Hello guys. And yes, like my mom said, I will be interviewing her. And mom, since I'm interviewing you, doesn't that make me the host?
Nikki Rogers: You are the host. Well, we’re co-hosting.
Dillon: Okay. I'll remember that.
Nikki Rogers: I see you have created a list of questions, so let's just get right into it.
Dillon: Okay, so my first question is what does your podcast do?
Nikki Rogers: My podcast is focused on women entrepreneurs who are doing great things. So I invite women business owners on to talk about some of the challenges of being in business, some of their great accomplishments. And I always end the show by asking them for some tips that they have for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Dillon: But what about the men?
Nikki Rogers: Well, I do invite men. It's not exclusionary. I do invite men onto the podcast. And I've had two male guests so far. One was my physical trainer and then another was a hypnotist and neuroscientist. And they had great advice to share with women entrepreneurs, so I did invite them on. And men are definitely invited onto the podcast.
Dillon: Do you invite kids like me?
Nikki Rogers: So far you're the first kid on the podcast.
Dillon: So what does The Bladen Group do?
Nikki Rogers: The Bladen Group is a management consulting firm where we work with large government organizations and commercial businesses in order to do what they do better. Do you know what management consulting means?
Dillon: No.
Nikki Rogers: Management consultants come in and they assess the situation within a business or an organization. They identify what some of the challenges might be, and then they help develop solutions. I do that by creating organizational strategy, doing organizational change management. Our government organizations or other businesses are going through change, we actually help them manage that change.
Dillon: So you're helping Dad?
Nikki Rogers: Well, in a sense, yes because your dad does work for a government agency. So yes, I go into organizations like the one your dad works for and help them be better at what they already do.
Dillon: Okay. How did you come up with the name for your business?
Nikki Rogers: The name comes from my hometown. So do you remember what my hometown is?
Dillon: Yes. It's the Bladenboro.
Nikki Rogers: Right. And so I grew up in a town called Bladenboro which is in North Carolina. And it is in Bladen county, and that's where the name comes from. I thought it was a great way to honor the place that I'm from. So that's how we came up with the Bladen Group.
Dillon: So how much money does the Bladen Group make per year?
Nikki Rogers: Great question. We've been fortunate enough to create a six-figure business that actually generates enough money in order to do the things that we want to do like around our house, and allow us to travel and do things that we want to do.
Dillon: That is nice. The only reason I asked that question was because I want to know how much longer are we going to be millionaires in?
Nikki Rogers: So how long does it take for us to be millionaires? I think that's a great question. Let's make a plan so we can stay on track.
Dillon: Okay. So why did you make your business?
Nikki Rogers: Well, there were a lot of reasons. I think I wanted to have control over my time. So I wanted to have more time to spend with family and friends as well as to travel. I wanted to be able to make more money. So at a certain point as an employee, you’re only making so much money. And I think like a business owner and entrepreneur, you can really determine how much money you want to make. And then the last thing is I wanted to leave a legacy for you. So if one day you want to take over the business or you want to sell the business, to generate revenue, to do whatever you want to do in life, that's another reason why I created the business.
Dillon: That's nice. And, wasn't it before you worked at Booz Allen?
Nikki Rogers: Yes, I did work for Booz Allen before.
Dillon: So my other question is, what is your goal with this business?
Nikki Rogers: Oh, my goal for this business is to, one, create a business and a company where people love to work, where I want to work, where I'm doing the work that I love to do. And also to create a company that has a positive impact on the world and on the clients that we serve. And then lastly, I want to create wealth for myself and our family.
Dillon: That's nice. The last question is, how long have you had your business?
Nikki Rogers: I've been in business, The Bladen Group has been in business for almost four years. So come January, it will be four years old.
Dillon: That's younger than me.
Nikki Rogers: That is younger than you.
Dillon: I'll be his big brother.
Nikki Rogers: Yes, that's true.
Dillon: Well, those are all my questions.
Nikki Rogers: Well, Dillon, it has been a delight having you as a co-host for today's episode. And I love to have you come back anytime you'd like to do more interviews. All right. Thanks, Dillon.
Dillon: Bye.
Nikki Rogers: Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Women Thriving in Business Podcast. If you like this episode, share it with a friend. You can also share your feedback, your insights, your thoughts with us on social media via Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn. We'd love to hear from you. Be sure to like, review and subscribe either on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify so you never miss an episode. Until next week. Keep thriving.