In this episode of Making It Happen, host Pauline Roth sits down with Riz Hakim, co-founder of Team Hakim (RE/MAX Premier Group) and founder of The Bay Network, to talk about entrepreneurship, mindset, and building meaningful community.

Riz shares how his and his wife Abby’s shared roots in real estate shaped their journey, how they turned networking into a genuine support system for local business owners, and what it takes to stay resilient through life’s challenges. From growing their business together to giving back through The Bay Network, this conversation is full of wisdom about balance, relationships, and staying grounded while growing.

If you’re a business owner, real-estate professional, or anyone looking to build authentic connections, this episode will inspire you to lead with heart and purpose — and keep making it happen.

Guest: Riz Hakim

Team Hakim Homes — teamhakimhomes.com
RE/MAX Premier Group | Serving the Greater Tampa Bay Area

The Bay Network — thebay.biz
A professional community designed to foster authentic connections and local business growth.

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• Topics Covered:

  • How childhood influences led Riz and Abby Hakim into real estate

  • The dynamics of Florida’s booming housing market

  • Creating The Bay Network and redefining what networking means

  • Building trust, relationships, and community among entrepreneurs

  • The challenges of time management and prioritization in business

  • The importance of mindset, physical activity, and balance

  • Staying resilient and grounded through personal loss and professional growth

  
  

  Key Quote:

  “Failure builds character. It’s part of the journey — what makes success that much sweeter.” — Riz Hakim

  
  

  Connect with Riz:
  📩 Email / Inquiry: via thebay.biz or teamhakimhomes.com
  🌐 Follow: The Bay Network on social media for upcoming events and membership details.

  
  

  Connect with Pauline:
  PaulineRoth.com | Follow Making It Happen on Spotify for new episodes each week.

Navigating Motherhood, Marriage, and Starting Over – with Cathie Stich

In this episode of Making It Happen, Pauline sits down with her friend Cathie Stich — a full-time working mom, wife, stepmom, homeschool parent, and founder of her home-based baking business, Whisk'd Away. Together, they dive into the unseen emotional labor of motherhood, the evolving seasons of marriage, and the courage it takes to follow a creative dream while balancing real life.

Cathie shares what it was like to grow up in a tight-knit Dominican-American family, become a stepmom unexpectedly, and raise her daughter Naya — who is now homeschooled after a difficult experience in traditional school. From her honest take on mom guilt to the mental juggling act of working full time while parenting, she opens up about the struggles, sacrifices, and small joys that define her journey.

They also discuss keeping a marriage strong through change, how faith shapes Cathie’s resilience, and what it really means to pursue passion without losing the love for it.

If you’ve ever wrestled with identity, felt the weight of invisible work, or wondered how to chase your goals while raising a family — this one’s for you.

Topics Covered:

• Cathie’s upbringing and family roots in the Dominican Republic

• What it was like becoming a stepmom and navigating blended family dynamics

• The decision to homeschool her daughter and what led up to it

• Letting go of outside opinions and trusting your parenting instincts

• How mom guilt shows up at every stage — and how she’s working through it

• Keeping her marriage strong through communication and realistic expectations

• Starting Whisk'd Away, her home bakery business, and what baking means to her

• The fear of turning passion into pressure — and finding peace in the process

• Her biggest lessons from failure and how faith keeps her grounded

  
  

🎧 Cathie’s Final Takeaway:

“It’s not a failure if you tried. If you trust God, even when it doesn’t feel okay — it eventually will be.”

💡 Learn more about Cathie’s baking journey:
Follow her on Instagram: @cathiem143
Coming soon to Facebook & local markets in Florida!

✨ Want more real talk and resources?
Visit PaulineRoth.com for free tools, career tips, family strategies, and to sign up for the newsletter. Get practical support sent straight to your inbox to help you thrive at home, in work, and beyond.

In this episode of Making It Happen, host Pauline Roth sits down with Alexa Ayala, co-owner of Apex Martial Arts in Wesley Chapel, FL. Alexa shares her incredible journey from working as a paralegal and nurse to running a thriving family business alongside her husband and son.

Alexa opens up about the wake-up call that pushed her to leave her corporate career and fully step into entrepreneurship—the medical emergency that reminded her to focus on what matters most: family, health, and purpose. She reflects on what it’s really like to work with her spouse every day, the challenges and rewards of blending marriage with business, and how her son Justin inspires her vision for the future of Apex Martial Arts.

Together, Alexa and Pauline dive into:

• The leap from a 9-to-5 career into full-time entrepreneurship.

• How a health scare reshaped Alexa’s priorities and perspective on life.

• The realities of working with your spouse—conflict, roles, and the surprising rewards.

• Lessons learned as a mom of an adult son and what she’d tell her younger self.

• Why believing in your family’s business and mission is essential for success.

• The importance of legacy, time freedom, and consistency in both business and life.

Alexa’s story is an inspiring reminder that success isn’t just about business growth—it’s about resilience, family, and building a legacy that lasts.

✨ Don’t miss this conversation filled with honesty, wisdom, and encouragement for anyone balancing family and entrepreneurship.

👉 For more resources and to join the Making It Happen community, visit PaulineRoth.com

Show Notes:

Guest: Alexa Ayala – Co-owner, Apex Martial Arts
Host: Pauline Roth

Key Topics Covered:

• [01:00] Alexa’s path from paralegal and nurse to martial arts business owner

• [02:30] The wake-up call that made her go “all in” on her family business

• [04:00] Experiencing a heart attack during a class—and how it changed everything

• [07:45] The rewards and challenges of working with her husband

• [13:00] Parenting insights: raising and guiding a 21-year-old son

• [16:30] Building a business legacy for the next generation

• [18:15] The hardest lessons (and biggest growth) as a business owner

• [20:00] Advice for moms considering joining their spouse’s business

• [22:00] Personal growth, perspective shifts, and defining success today

• [25:30] Stories of transformation from students and families at Apex Martial Arts

• [27:45] Alexa’s most valuable lessons from failure and how she applies them daily

• [31:00] Closing reflections: consistency, resilience, and making it happen