Rebuilding my business after burnout wasn’t one big breakthrough. It was a series of small, honest shifts that finally brought me back to myself.

Rest. Prioritization. Time boundaries. Financial honesty. And the self-care I kept putting off because I felt guilty investing in myself.

In today’s episode of The Expansion Era, I’m sharing what this rebuilding season has really looked like for me as a mom of two, a wife, and a founder trying to get her mojo back. This chapter isn’t about going back to who I was. It’s about becoming someone who doesn’t abandon herself on the way to her goals.

If you're feeling depleted, questioning your confidence, or trying to rebuild your business after a hard season, this one’s for you.

✨ Watch this whenever you need a reminder that you can rebuild without rushing yourself.

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Are you ready to finally take the leap and start your side hustle, but don’t know where to start? This week we are outlining nine high-potential side hustles that can realistically scale to replace or significantly supplement your full-time income. 

Now these are not quick-fix ideas, these are long-term businesses that can bring you recurring revenue by leveraging automation tools (especially AI), and refining your marketing so clients find and trust you. Take it from someone who has built an entire brand on side hustling! 

In this episode I share:

• Nine unique and and high-profit side hustles that can fully replace your 9-5
• The side hustles former guests of Side Hustle Pro have had major success with
• Why closing the gap between your ideas and actually starting is the key to your business

Highlights include:

• 01:45 Cleaning services
• 06:22 Faceless podcast
• 07:57 Virtual assistant
• 12:16 Social media marketing
• 15:25 Short-form video editor 
• 21:15 Podcast/YouTube channel manager
• 22:30 AI integration specialist
• 26:34 Corporate training and coaching
• 29:40 Done-for-you service provider
• 32:30 Why you should start now

This week in the guest chair, Dr. Lakila Bowden shares her powerful journey from leading thousands inside Fortune 500 companies to co-founding ISee Technologies, a Black sister-owned, disability-led consulting firm now earning seven figures.

After leaving corporate in 2019, Lakila teamed up with her sister, Camille, to build a company trusted by brands like Disney, Kraft Heinz, and the EPA for high-impact training, inclusion, and workforce wellness programs. What makes her work different is how she blends corporate strategy, healing, and public speaking to help organizations and people thrive without burnout.

In this episode, Lakila opens up about the moment she walked away from the “known,” how she rebuilt her identity outside of corporate titles, and how speaking became a major accelerator in her business growth. She also breaks down the inner and outer transformation required to grow with your purpose, honor your well-being, and lead from a place of wholeness.

In This Episode, Dr. Lakila Shares:

• The pivotal moment she knew she had to leave corporate America
• How she and her sister built ISee Technologies into a 7-figure consulting firm
• Why public speaking became a core revenue driver in her business
• How personal healing shaped her approach to leadership and entrepreneurship
• Her framework for helping organizations and individuals thrive without burning out

Highlights Include

00:00: Intro

02:10: Starting IC Technologies with her sister Camille

04:30: Becoming a speaker and author and how speaking scaled her impact

08:20: Building a disability-led, wellness-centered company

12:00: How corporate strategy + personal healing became her business superpower

16:15: The growth that came after walking away from the “known”

20:45: Helping organizations cultivate inclusion and sustainable wellness

26:30: Advice for anyone ready to pivot from corporate into purpose

Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps

This week in the guest chair, we have someone very special, my sister, Nadeen Matthews Blair and her pivot story is going to speak directly to anyone who’s ever felt called to reinvent themselves.

After 20 years in banking, management consulting, and C-suite leadership, Nadeen hit a point where the titles, the pressure, and the nonstop demands were no longer aligned with the life she wanted for herself and her family. So she did what so many high-achieving women fear doing: she stepped back, listened to the whisper, and chose a new path.

That path led her to Crescent Advisory Group, where she now teaches professionals, creatives, and new entrepreneurs how to use AI with confidence. What’s wild is that she built the entire business using just four beginner-friendly AI tools and today, she’s breaking them all down for you.

Whether you’re in a pivot, launching a side hustle, or trying to understand where AI fits into your next chapter, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a simple starting point.

In This Episode, Nadeen Shares:

• How she pivoted from a demanding corporate career into full-time entrepreneurship
• Why early consulting and workshop opportunities found her before she officially launched
• How AI tools like Perplexity, Gamma, Looka, and Namelix helped her build her brand, website, and business foundation fast
• Why AI is the most powerful leverage tool for side hustlers in 2025
• How redefining success around flexibility, family, and purpose shaped her new chapter
• What she’s teaching thousands of people in her beginner-friendly AI webinars

If you’ve been feeling the pull to pivot or you’re curious about how to use AI without feeling overwhelmed, this is your episode.

Watch Episode 489 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps.

Links mentioned in this episode

This week in the guest chair we have Keewa Nurullah, artist, entrepreneur, and small-business strategist you may remember as the founder of Kido, the beloved South Loop children’s boutique that brought color, culture, and community to families across Chicago.

After six powerful years in business, and national recognition that included a shout-out from President Barack Obama, Keewa made the bold decision to close her brick-and-mortar store and start over.

In this episode, Keewa opens up about what it truly looks like to evolve as an entrepreneur, navigating economic shifts, changing customer behavior, and the emotional side of letting go of something you built from the ground up. Today she’s channeling those lessons into her work as a strategist and host of Circulate, a monthly community event that “love-bombs” local shops with intentional support and helps other founders build thriving, purpose-driven businesses on their own terms.

In this episode, she shares:

• The courage to walk away from a business 
• What retail taught her about leadership, money, and boundaries
• The realities of pivoting after success
• How she’s creating new pathways for community-minded entrepreneurs

Highlights Include

00:00 Intro

03:10 Launching Kido and building community through culture

08:45 Getting national recognition (including Barack Obama’s shout-out)

13:20 The moment she knew it was time to close her storefront

17:15 Navigating shifting customer habits post-pandemic

22:40 Starting over as a strategist and redefining success

27:00 Creating Circulate and supporting small businesses

33:15 Lessons on resilience, rest, and rediscovering your "why"

40:00 Advice for entrepreneurs in transition

Watch episode 488 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps

Links mentioned in this episode