Wednesday, August 28 we will be guided by Transformational Coach Lisa Birnesser of Unlock Your Inner Potential. Lisa is Shawndra’s personal craniosacral and massage therapist that has helped transform her health, and we want to share her incredible healing gifts with all of you.

Suggested donation: $10-25

Get to know Lisa in this episode of The Legacy Project:

Wednesday, July 31: TBD

Free for members. Donations Accepted for our Wellness Experts and Host.

Every 1st Tuesday, We will host a PechaKucha-style presentation followed by conversation. April’s PechaKucha will be presented by Shawndra Russell on the topic of Choosing Vs. Being Chosen. Two more presenters are welcome to create their own PechaKucha presentations to round out the morning. Learn more about Pechakucha presentations at: https://www.pechakucha.com/communities/asheville.

50+ woman-owned businesses are coming together in our first annual Woman-Owned Expo and Trick-or-Treat on Friday, October 25 from 4-7pm. We will have DJ Molly Parti, food and drink vendors including the new Ramblin’ Rose mobile bar, activities, and more! Sign up to be a vendor here:

We are looking for more food, drink, and events sponsors, so please reach out to hello@madgeniusstudios.com if you’re interested in being part of this wonderful event celebrating the women entrepreneurs of Asheville!

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mad-genius-proudly-presents-the-premiere-of-show-her-the-money-movie-registration-1008712986697

ABOUT THE FILM

This is a story that’s never been told.

SHOW HER THE MONEY addresses how women are getting less than 2% of venture capital funding and demystifies what venture capital is.

Featuring rock-star female investors who invest in diverse women entrepreneurs with innovations that will change the world, Show Her The Money reminds us that money is power and women need it to achieve true equality.

The film follows four visionary founders as they endure uphill battles to turn their ideas into reality. In spite of their dedication and passion constantly being challenged, these women, with the financial support and mentorship of their angel investors, become even more determined, resourceful and resilient, and the growth of their businesses is mind-blowing. Each business has the potential to become a “unicorn” … a billion dollar business.  

We are so lucky to have our neighbor Gillian Bellinger, owner of Misfit Improv & Acting School, leading a FREE WORKSHOP for our community on Thursday, September 26 from 5-7:30pm at Mad Genius Studios. This workshop will help “Transform Your Approach to Business” and is sure to be a ton of fun!

About Gillian: Gillian is a corporate facilitator, certified coach, and experiential instructional designer with 20+ years of experience in the Leadership and Development space. She facilitates for multiple industries. Some of her past clients include: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Amgen, Kaiser Permanente, Lockheed Martin, MERCK, Executive Office of the White House, Cartoon Network, TBS, BMW, New York Life, Macy’s, State Farm. She is also the owner of Misfit Improv & Activing School in Asheville located at 573 Fairview Road in the Asheville Design District. For more information about Gillian, CLICK HERE.

JUST SHOW UP!!!!

September 3: Holly Fisher of Fisher Creative, https://fisher-creative.com/.

September 10: TBD

September 17: Sandhya Maheshwari of Lotus Life Mastery

September 24: NO L&L because we’re going to The Big Speak, National Speaker’s Association of WNC’s annual event, at Highland Brewing Event Center from 11-3pm. Join us there!

Join me at the Woman Strong: From Masquerade to Self Discovery Empowerment Summit! Kickoff the Summit Fri, Sep 20, 2024 at 6:30 PM for an evening of good people, good fashion, good food, and fun! The entirety of this event is all about inspiration, celebration, connection, and growth as we gain the motivation, strength, and courage to shed our masks and embrace our true selves. Get ready, our lineup of speakers and workshop sessions will not disappoint!

• Friday Evening: Semi-Formal Masquerade Welcome Dinner - Step into an evening of elegance and intrigue with our semi-formal masquerade welcome dinner. Network with other amazing Ladies of Woman Strong while enjoying a night of mystery, beauty, and celebration. This enchanting dinner sets the tone for unmasking our potential towards an empowering experience that will unveil your true self. DRESS: Semi-Formal- Colors RED, BLACK, WHITE or SILVER. Please wear a masquerade mask that can remain on your eyes/face

• Saturday Summit: Unmasking Your Empowerment - Come ready to immerse yourself in a day dedicated to personal and professional growth. Engage with dynamic women who will share their journeys of overcoming obstacles and achieving remarkable success. Participate in interactive workshops designed to spark self-reflection and personal development. DRESS: Comfy Casual- Colors Red, Black, or White. Ideally in your Woman Strong T-Shirt, can pre-order with ticket purchase to guarantee size, or purchase at event.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded women and embark on a journey of personal growth. So come on, step out from behind the mask and into your true power. Register today and embark on a journey from masquerade to self-discovery! Yes, Woman YOU are Strong!! Can't wait to see you there!

The fabulous Missy Frisch, leader of the local chapter for the nationwide Flourish Networking for Women and owner of Missy Frisch Coaching, we lead us in a transformational FREE workshop on Thursday, September 19 from 5-6:30pm.

Description: 

Are you ready for a fresh outlook on life?  Maybe you’ve settled into a monotonous routine in your business, with your health, or in a relationship, and you’re often telling yourself, “it’s fine” but deep down you know you want more. Ladies - we’ve all been there. Nothing has gone wrong. And, it’s time to shake things up!

Join Missy Frisch, certified life and mindset coach, for a fun, interactive workshop where you'll discover a proven framework to unlock new perspectives on your current circumstances. 

Learn five unique ways to view any situation and take back control of how you’re showing up in your own life. And don’t worry, this isn’t about forced positivity or always looking on the bright side— all emotions are welcome here. Spoiler alert: We’ll even discuss how choosing to embrace anger can move you forward. No Pollyanna positivity here. Instead, real strategies to channel your energy in ways that feel authentic to you.

Register today and unlock the power of perspective to change your life.

Every Tuesday, we will have a guest speaker share their story to leadership. Bring your own lunch and learn (we’re actively looking for sponsors, so stay tuned) from local leaders in a casual, conversational setting. If you have a slideshow featuring some of yourself growing up into the leader you are today, we certainly welcome that!

September 3: Holly Fisher, Fisher Creative: https://fisher-creative.com/

September 10: NO LUNCH AND LEARN, COME TO OUR ASHEVILLE ENTREPRENEUR WEEK WOMEN’S PANEL from 4-5pm instead! https://www.madgeniusstudios.com/events/2024/9/9/asheville-entrepreneur-week-september-9-13

September 17: Sandhya Maheshwari, Lotus Life Mastery: https://lotuslifemastery.com/

September 24: Faith Bischoff, NextGEN Case Manager Buncombe County, Goodwill

Join us for the 2nd annual high school pitch competition with the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Mars Hill University. This event aims to inspire area high school students to unleash their entrepreneurial potential. Enter the Lion’s Den, where camaraderie and competition create innovation!

Date: September 14, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Where: Owen Theatre, Mars Hill University

Judges: Shawndra Russell, HarmonyAVL+media and Mad Genius Studios; Annie Woods, Mountain Bizworks, and Dan Whisnat, www.sdvosystems.com

Details

• Business ideas can be anything related to the footwear industry

• Students will present business plans to a panel of judges of local entrepreneurs

• Teams of 1-4 people, teams of 2 or more are encouraged

• Must have a high school junior or senior on the team

• CASH PRIZES for teams and the schools they represent!

  • 1st: $2,000 team, $1,000 school

  • 2nd: $1,000 team, $500 school

  • 3rd: $500 team, $250 school

Registration

Once registered, you will receive more information from Sabrina Delk, sabrina_delk@mhu.edu

Registration closes Friday, September 6, 2024.

For more information, visit: https://www.mhu.edu/academics-majors-and-minors-business-administration-entrepreneurial-leadership-case-competition/

Every third Thursday, the 51st chapter of The Real Estate InvestHER meets with a featured speaker or activity to help women live financially free lives. July’s topic is wholesaling. RSVP and find full details here: https://www.meetup.com/the-real-estate-investher-meetup-asheville-north-carolina

This month’s meetup will be a business speed dating session so that everyone can get to know each other more and learn about shared interests and potential collaborations!

September 3: Holly Fisher of Fisher Creative, https://fisher-creative.com/.

September 10: No lunch and learn, come to our women’s panel at 4pm instead as part of Asheville Entrepreneur Week! https://www.madgeniusstudios.com/events/2024/9/9/asheville-entrepreneur-week-september-9-13

September 17: Sandhya Maheshwari of Lotus Life Mastery

September 24: NO L&L because we’re going to The Big Speak, National Speaker’s Association of WNC’s annual event, at Highland Brewing Event Center from 11-3pm. Join us there!

Welcome female identified people who work in traditionally male industries. This is an intergenerational group learning from those who came before, and lifting up the new women in the community. We host free monthly meetups to connect, refer business, and learn. https://www.meetup.com/asheville-women-in-trades/

September 3: Holly Fisher of Fisher Creative, https://fisher-creative.com/.

September 10: No lunch and learn, come to our women’s panel at 4pm instead as part of Asheville Entrepreneur Week! https://www.madgeniusstudios.com/events/2024/9/9/asheville-entrepreneur-week-september-9-13

September 17: Sandhya Maheshwari of Lotus Life Mastery

September 24: NO L&L because we’re going to The Big Speak, National Speaker’s Association of WNC’s annual event, at Highland Brewing Event Center from 11-3pm. Join us there!

Power of Women Mixer for Members (bring a friend!) at Red Ribbon Society at The Flat Iron Hotel. 20 Battery Park. For more information, visit: https://www.powerofwomen.world/events-1

Join Eyes Up Here Comedy & Modelface Comedy for the premiere open mic for the rest of us -- Everybody But You Bro is a comedy mic for women, non-binary, and femme folks to take the stage and tell jokes -- up to 5 minutes.

This is a queer and trans-inclusive mic.
We don’t punch down y’all!

Sign ups at 6pm and shows starts at 6:30pm and it’s show up and go up!

All are welcome for the audience, however hecklers will be asked to leave
Free event, $10 donations are highly encouraged

Hosted by Erin Terry

Stick around after the mic for our Joke Writing Workshop

Shelia is opening the store to us and staying open a little later! BYOB and we will have some snacks. We can also migrate to Cultivated Cocktails next door after we've played around at Sugar Britches—the most Asheville shop in Asheville with a collection of carefully curated vintage and upcycled clothing from the town's best treasure hunters, designers, and artists!

For more details: https://www.facebook.com/groups/761445729125151

August 6: Missy Frisch of Missy Frisch Coaching and leader of the Asheville chapter of Flourish https://missyfrischcoaching.com/

August 13: Mental Fitness Coach Jackie Coley, https://jackiecoley.com/

August 20: Gillian Bellinger, owner of Misfit Improv and Corporate Improv Facilitator, https://www.misfitavl.com/.

August 27: Shauna McDonald, Asheville Interiors

Every month, we will host a craft night as we think all women entrepreneurs need a little crafting in their life to get our of their heads and use our hands while we talk a little business including wins and frustrations! We will learn from Georgette Blackford, Business Manager for Mad Genius Studios and self-taught crafty woman extraordinaire. Georgette will be teaching us how to make adorable, light, and portable ottomans.

$15 if you bring your own materials, $25 if you want to use our scrap fabric.

Free for members if you bring your own materials.

Help support affordable housing while having a great time!

Every donation will directly support the building of Asheville Habitat's 20th Women Build house in our growing Glenn Bridge neighborhood. Learn a bit about our Women Build program and meet some of our past Women Build house homeowners.

The Wild Bodemas and Flashbacks will provide live music.

There will be alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase. Light refreshments will be provided and Mountain Man BBQ food truck will be on site.

The event capacity is 250 people.

The fabulous Dr. Laura Jurgens , a local sex, relationship, and embodiment coach, will be leading us in some nervous system and more work to help us become shameless. How would it feel to be free of shame about your body and appearance? If you’d like to get closer to that, join us for this special community-building, de-shaming series. It is time to shed the baggage we all carry from a misogynistic culture.

These events are specifically for people who identify as women. We’re going to do embodied and connection-based exercises to release shame around our bodies and looks. Activities will include somatic, mindset, and connection-based exercises that release shame in the mind and body. You will shed judgment about yourself and others. You will tap into some parts of yourself you may not have met before. You will leave feeling more free, more accepted, more resourced, and more connected. 

Bring your authentic self, a notebook and pen/pencil, and willingness to be honest with yourself, to listen to others with empathy, and to challenge your old habits and judgments with compassion. Wear comfy clothes as we will be sitting on meditation cushions.

This series is led by dual-certified somatic relationship & embodiment coach Dr. Laura Jurgens. 

Free, limited to 25 participants. Must RSVP through Meetup at https://www.meetup.com/women-becoming-shameless-avl/events/300757820/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link

August 6: Missy Frisch of Missy Frisch Coaching and leader of the Asheville chapter of Flourish https://missyfrischcoaching.com/

August 13: Mental Fitness Coach Jackie Coley, https://jackiecoley.com/

August 20: Gillian Bellinger, owner of Misfit Improv and Corporate Improv Facilitator, https://www.misfitavl.com/.

August 27: Shauna McDonald, Asheville Interiors

August 6: Missy Frisch of Missy Frisch Coaching and leader of the Asheville chapter of Flourish https://missyfrischcoaching.com/

August 13: Mental Fitness Coach Jackie Coley, https://jackiecoley.com/

August 20: Gillian Bellinger, owner of Misfit Improv and Corporate Improv Facilitator, https://www.misfitavl.com/.

August 27: Shauna McDonald, Asheville Interiors

From the organizer: Networking - The way you always hoped it would be!

No one is positioning themselves to be the loudest voice in the room.

No competition.

Simply, a group of women who support each other, and by doing so, they grow personally and professionally.

Only one business type is represented at each meeting - RSVP Required - email to missy@missyfrischcoaching.com

We'd love to have you join us at our next Flourish meeting! In April we made some great connections and Christy Bell did an awesome presentation on long term care insurance. If you know anyone who could use help with that type of planning, Christy is passionate and knowledgeable on the issue and can be reached at csbell@ft.newyorklife.com.

Please email missy@missyfrischcoaching.com to check availability to register your business. The purpose of this is to make sure we only have one business type represented each month. This goes a long way in creating a non-competitive environment that makes our meetings relaxing and enjoyable for everyone. Thanks so much and as always, let me know if you have any questions!

Looking forward to connecting with you all soon! 

Cheers,

Missy

This is a special event where we will be hosting a roundtable discussion about leadership, feminism, the future, and the legacies we are leaving behind. Brunch will be served and we will be filming this as an episode for The Legacy Project. Each participant will have access to the recording and photos to utilize for their own purposes. Only 5 spots available, so please email madgeniusstudios@gmail.com to secure your spot.

Free

August 6: Missy Frisch of Missy Frisch Coaching and leader of the Asheville chapter of Flourish https://missyfrischcoaching.com/

August 13: Mental Fitness Coach Jackie Coley, https://jackiecoley.com/

August 20: Gillian Bellinger, owner of Misfit Improv and Corporate Improv Facilitator, https://www.misfitavl.com/.

August 27: Shauna McDonald, Asheville Interiors

July 9: Jennifer will share about how to write a business plan to achieve financing and SBA Lending for 2024 during this special finance-focused Lunch & Learn.

July 16: Transformational Coach Lisa Birnesser of Unlock Your Inner Potential will be presenting her 5 Cs. Lisa is Shawndra’s personal craniosacral and massage therapist that has helped transform her health, and we want to share her incredible healing gifts with all of you. She will be giving a talk about self-compassion and how that differs from self-esteem and self-worth. Get to know Lisa in this episode of The Legacy Project:

July 23: Shawndra Russell, Chief Mad Genius Officer, will share her three biggest entrepreneurial lessons.

July 30: April Nash of Western Women’s Business Center will share her experience of working with entrepreneurs every day and her own experiences.