How do you juggle being the mayor of a city while running multiple business ventures? In this episode of The Payoff Podcast, Rachel Proctor, Mayor of DeSoto, Texas, and franchise owner of Salata, shares her unique journey of leading her community while navigating the entrepreneurial world. Rachel dives into the challenges and rewards of franchise ownership, her approach to accessing capital, and the critical lessons she’s learned from managing multiple ventures.

From the highs of business success to the secrets no one discloses, Rachel provides practical insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders looking to balance multiple roles. Tune in for an inspiring conversation with The Payoff host Cynthia Nevels on leadership, resilience, and what it truly takes to thrive in both public service and business!

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Ever wonder how a small consumer goods business makes it onto the shelves of major retailers like HEB and Central Market? Jessica Taylor, founder of Ezra Coffee, shares her inspiring journey on this episode of The Payoff. From identifying her target market to scaling her brand and navigating the complex retail landscape, Jessica reveals some of the key steps that helped her turn Ezra Coffee into a household name.

Discover how she crafted a compelling brand story, built relationships with retailers, and overcame the challenges of breaking into the competitive world of grocery retail. Whether you're launching a consumer goods brand or dreaming of seeing your product on store shelves, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you gain insights and perspective.

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Expanding your e-commerce business beyond borders can unlock massive growth potential—but navigating the complexities of international trade is no easy feat. In this episode, Maria Luisa Boyce, Vice President of International Policy for UPS Global Public Affairs, draws on over 25 years of experience in global trade, customs affairs, and cross-border logistics to offer expert advice on scaling e-commerce businesses internationally. Maria breaks down the key strategies for successfully entering new markets, understanding customs regulations, and optimizing global supply chains to meet customer demand.

In her current role at UPS, Maria is part of the team working on Capitol Hill, advocating for UPS’ priorities. She leads UPS’s government affairs efforts in Latin America, advocates for global policy impacting UPS’s Small Business Enterprise (SMEs) customers and leads for the Global Public Affairs team for the UPS Women Exporters Program.

If you're an e-commerce entrepreneur looking to expand your reach globally, this conversation, led by The Payoff host Cynthia Nevels, is packed with practical tips and insights to help introduce you to the world of cross-border trade.

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