Natalie Franke
We have a little bit of announcement meets special episode. Yeah, storytelling,
Akua Konadu
I mean, just all the things, I think that it’s we have been on a very incredible, amazing journey. And now things look very different. So I think it’s so important for us to talk about that and just share where we’re at.
Natalie Franke
Yeah, I always love we were chatting, we’re like, how do we start this episode? And it was like, I’m just gonna look at you and say, so how did we get here? Hey, everyone, this is your host, Natalie Frank, and you’re listening to the independent business podcast, more people than ever are working for themselves and building profitable businesses in the process. So on this show, I sit down with some of the most influential authors, entrepreneurs and creators to break down the science of self made success so that you can achieve victory.
Akua Konadu
You know, this is this episode is really the other fields. I just have so many emotions. But I think we just need to start off by just talking about how we got here. Yeah, yeah.
Natalie Franke
By now, if you haven’t heard the announcement, we’ll give you a little context. After eight years and HoneyBook, I am transitioning into a new role as head of community at float s a big part of that is that I’ve been the host of the podcast now for the past seven, eight months for season one. Yeah. And it’s been so much fun. Yes. And we’ve gotten to work on that together, which has been a blast. But with this transition, the time has come to pass the baton and to bring on a new host for season two. Yeah, I wonder who it is.
Akua Konadu
I don’t know, girl. I don’t know who it could be. I know she’s pretty dough.
Natalie Franke
She is. She’s pretty incredible. We’re so excited to have you jumping in and joining us today for this conversation. Because like I said, I’m transitioning out if you saw that on social already, if you haven’t, go check out honey book Social, we are celebrating our brand new house today we are celebrating the one and only Akua konadu going to be taking this podcast to new heights and leading us into season two.
Akua Konadu
Yeah, it’s I’m number one just so grateful and so excited. But it’s just wild the journey. I don’t know if anybody knows this. But I have been working on the podcast from the very beginning behind the scenes, working with topics, questions, all of that stuff, doing a lot of the episode prep. So it has been such a blast working with you. And on the podcast team. Honestly, it has been just a gift honestly working besides beside you. So let’s just talk about how we even got here because I’m shocked that the story still.
Natalie Franke
How far back we want to go. On a warm summer day in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We started our friendship. Yeah, that was the first time we met the rising tide retreat.
Akua Konadu
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, those words we met. But I think you know, I was going back to the beginning. I didn’t think that far back.
Natalie Franke
All the way back to the very origin story.
Akua Konadu
Oh, yeah. Well, it’s honestly just even backtracking a little bit. Since we are backtracking. It has truly been. This is another full circle moment for me. Because back in 2017, I didn’t have a business I had met a friend who. And I met her through Google, I just Googled a couple topics. And I met with her because we ended I ended up finding out that we grew up in the same town. So we were in the same area. And she told me about this group of community, like a group of people that get together to talk about business. And she told me, she come to the next one. And I said, You know what, I’m gonna go. And at that time, I had no business. I had no clue what I wanted to do. I had just graduated college, and I was lost. And I just remember that day showing up at Lake Harriet, and it is busy there because it’s summers in Minneapolis. So everybody’s out before the winter hits. And I don’t know what it was. But I just saw throughout the whole midst of a whole bunch of people, just a group of people sitting there and I walked right up to them. And I said, Hi, is this a group that like, meets once a month to talk about, like, I don’t know, business stuff. And they were like, Yeah, and it was a really, really incredible event. And I just kept going, and I didn’t have a business once a month. I just kept showing up every time. And it was wonderful, because everybody in that community helped me build my business. And that was when I learned it was rising tide. That’s when I learned about you it was everyone’s like V Natalie Frank, right. Like everybody was like, Oh my gosh, who is she? And like, everybody just spoke so highly of you. And I was like, I don’t know who she is. But she sounds great. Showing up.
Natalie Franke
No, no. For folks who don’t know, I am one of the cofounders of the rising tide society. Yes. So I had been just one of many people that you know, was really integral in the beginning. Yeah, throughout the growth of
Akua Konadu
the gross and I’m honey book too. And that was the thing. Nobody was talking about HoneyBook and rising tide. And so it was through that community, people were like, Akua, I want to help you get your business together, what do you need help with your website. Let’s get your headshots together, I’ll help you with copy so many wonderful people that helped me build my business. And I couldn’t have done that without honey book. And I couldn’t have done that without you. And I hadn’t even met you yet, which is wild. And so I eventually become an RTS leader, eventually. And that was fun. And then finally, they picked Minneapolis to have our leaders retreat. And there were conversations about it. You know, there were little bit emails, but I wasn’t really involved in it. I just was like, cool. It’s cool. Whatever, just let me know. I’ll just show up. My other leaders kind of took the charge and communicating and I don’t you meet so many people’s I don’t think you remember are like very first interaction. I remember you telling me that you like I knew you. I didn’t know that you knew me. I know you do remember that interaction?
Natalie Franke
I do. Because I so I do meet a lot of people. Yeah. But especially when it comes to rising tide. I’ve always really tried to make an effort to know who the leaders are. Okay. And I’m human. So of course, I can’t be everywhere all the time. But yeah, of course, I knew you. Yeah. It’s really excited to meet you.
Akua Konadu
I remember leaving. She remembered. Like, she was like, That’s so nice. You know, just feeling so seen. Because I really had the anticipation. I went up to you. I was like, Hey, I’m a cool, you probably don’t know me. And you will tell me you’re like, of course, I know. You and I was okay. It’s so nice to meet you. Well, it
Natalie Franke
was an awkward bear. lasted way too long.
Akua Konadu
It was it was it was such it was so warm, and just so kind and again, like, just to be able to feel so seen in that moment. It was really, really awesome that that was our very first interaction. And then I think again, at the imperfect boss camp was our next interaction, which was a lot of fun. That was
Natalie Franke
an experience. We were in the wilderness of Canada. Yeah. Tober, which I didn’t know was frigid. I didn’t come into this knowing it was going to be sub zero at night. I remember that I knew heaters. Yeah, we’re in bunks. Yes. That was a that was trauma, bonding additives. It wasn’t it was the best. It was
Akua Konadu
the best experience cold and all. But the food was great. The conversations were great. The event was phenomenal and unforgettable. And I think that was my next interaction with you. But and then it’s again, like, you know, you just start to I just got more involved as my business and I was growing my business and then starting speaking engagements back in after the pandemic was when I really started speaking on stages. And in 2021, and I got an email from Kate masters, who was the head of community at the time for rising tide and was like, Would you like to come work for the rising tide community and honey book? And I was like, Well, yeah, because, well, number one, it was just my way of paying it forward. I felt like it was a way for me, because I just was like, I get to help and be able to support other small businesses who have done the same for me, with nothing in return. Like that was what I love so much about the community is that nobody expected anything from me it was how can I help? I don’t care. I just want to see you succeed. So
Natalie Franke
So ACOA, if it takes characters just
Akua Konadu
Yeah, so I was like, Oh, I would love to like it just the work is just so impactful. So I was like, I want to absolutely help with that. And I want to be there. And that was the first time that we’ve really started to kind of work with you a little bit more behind the scenes, which was really, really great. And it was Kate too, and just the RTS team and the HoneyBook team. And I number one, you know, I’ve always worked with corporations. That’s like a freelancer, a type of contractor, like I’ve done that several times. And so I’m not saying it to be like, Oh, because I’m on the podcast, honey book is truly one of the best places to work for. Even as a contractor, I have had a phenomenal experience. And so more as my role just kind of just grew and changed. And that was when you had this on your heart about launching the podcast. And we were in Israel, because HoneyBook let me take along for that trip, which was amazing. So that to me was also another full circle moment. But you were telling me about the podcast. And I remember on the bus, we were talking about it. I was like well, do you need help? Because I’d love to help you. Say less.
Natalie Franke
Yes, yeah, you’re officially I know you didn’t sign up for this. But now you’re stuck with me was What’s so funny, though, is when you were talking about our fish interaction in person and the rising tide meet up and you’re like I felt so seen. I felt that way about you. Oh, really? Okay, me. What? Yes. So in our work together on the podcast, some of you know, maybe a lot of you don’t when it says I’ve been involved since the beginning. She’s humbly saying that she truly built the bones of this podcast, like your DNA is throughout everything from how we ask questions to how we structure the conversations to who we have on the show to I mean, you name it, a coup has been so instrumental behind the scenes. So when I will say having you step into the role of host to me, is so exciting. And how and I said this to you. We were having dinner last night or like a late lunch, early dinner, and I was like, I almost feel like this is where it was always supposed to be. Yeah. And you’re like what? And I was like no, but really I do because it’s a moment where you built the stage and now you get to stand on what you’ve built. You get to take the mic and you get to level this podcast up even higher. hire and encourage it to practice work, like it is created content in the feed. That feedback that we’ve gotten from the community has just been amazing. And you have such a heart for the community, having come from the business world, having started with no business, built a successful business, and then leveled up in the thought leadership spaces, and now having the opportunity to drive this podcast into the future and continue to serve in this way. I am so excited. And as we were creating the podcast, you always made me feel seen because as we were thinking through, you know, what questions do we want to ask? And what conversations do we want to have, you have a way of challenging me to be the best version of myself. And then when you see me stepping into that throughout every hard decision, every you know, joyful conversation on the back is every afterwards I’m feeling like some episodes, some interviews are so easy. Others I beat myself up after I’m like, I shouldn’t have done this. A coup is the one though that will celebrate everyone in her life when they’re stepping into who they’re supposed to be. And you’ve been that for me, you’ve been that for me on the show, you’ve been that for me as a friend. Now over the years that we’ve become closer off, you know, the podcast, and even in making this really hard decision to jump into a new role. Yeah, you cried with me. And then once we recovered from our crying, you’re like, I’m in and I’m ready. And not only that, you were like, I’m happy for you now, like you’re ready to cheer you on. Don’t you dare,
Akua Konadu
don’t you prepared you guys, you guys already know, I already have my little, we’re gonna cry, my low Kleenex to dab the corner of the eye.
Natalie Franke
And it’s just really rare, I think to find someone who can be that dynamically supportive of you as a human being. And I really thank you for that. Because, you know, I’ve been with anybody for eight years, this company is extraordinary. And I love it with every fiber of my being. Yeah. And leaving is one of the hardest things that I’ve ever done. Yeah, because I love it so much. Now not really leaving, I’m still going to be popping up all the time and cheering on being a HoneyBook educator. And so it’s just the full time work that’s changing. Yeah. But knowing that, and I believe this, like knowing that you’re stepping into this role, and you’re born to do this, and you’re gonna do such an exceptional job, gets me fired up to listen every single week. Oh, man, I can’t wait.
Akua Konadu
I’m already tearing up. But I think I just got back to when you when you told me when you called me on the phone. And you had said that you were leaving. And I just remember there was like a silence. Because in my mind, I was like, what, like we have season one has been incredible, like the magic that we have put in and what we’ve built and we had a strategy and a plan for season two. And so I was shocked. Because I was like, Miss ma’am, that is not what we had discussed. It’s not what we’re supposed to be doing. And you know, and of course, then I just got really emotional, because you know, there’s so many factors with it. Like, I just have loved working with you and Ruth and you know, Haley and Tyler, like our podcast team, which is it’s been a blast. And so now things look different, and you don’t know what that’s gonna look like. But then you said to me, you were like, you know, Akua I think I’m going to suggest that you take over. And I remember instinctively, I instantly was like, No, set it right away. And you were talking about you and your own journey. And this was what made it click for me and I still had to go back and process it. But you said to me was like Akua like I have to be gutsy. And I just kept thinking after that conversation with myself, I’m not gonna try to cry. I’m not. I said, she’s being gutsy. Like I gotta be gutsy to I owe it to myself to give this a shot. I owe it to myself to see what this can become. And so I said alright, we’re gonna do it right like now things just look different. But I’m excited for the journey and I’m going to lean in as you are going into your journey and going to lean and so it’s like our journeys are very parallel right now though it’s still very different in so many aspects but it has been so beautiful and I can’t I’m stoked to see what happens to you with and flow desk, they are lucky to have you Of course I’d like shout out to Martha and Rebecca too because they are wonderful they they helped me a teeny bit to my own entrepreneurial journey back in the day and they know what it was so yeah, they it just goes to show again the community even at the flow airflow desk where you’re going because they are truly truly amazing. So
Natalie Franke
Oh god, I just look I am I’m so excited for you. I am so excited for this podcast and I am so excited for the fact that you know we get to live out the values that we talk about so frequently behind the scenes yes about supporting others in this case women supporting women have you know companies supporting other companies like I love you’re like we’re gonna be working in parallel we are and you better have you back as a guest on the show. You
Akua Konadu
are never leaving high no you’re stuck with you know we are in this document. We built this together and so you know, you will always you’re always walking back you will always be here of course like we love you and the work that you have. I’m literally proof of the work that you have put in into the community And I know I’m not the only person right, there’s so many other business owners that you have impacted in more ways than one and, and I definitely know, not just me at HoneyBook. But so many of it like all of us are just so grateful for everything that you’ve done and we absolutely love you and we are rooting for you and cheering you on. And we just thank you
Natalie Franke
all the feeling is so mutual, and I mean that with every fiber of my being Yes, I can’t wait to see you kill it. I can’t remain crush it. I’m hitting the subscribe button and you should to hit that subscribe button. Yeah, I can’t wait. And gosh, do we have a lineup for season?
Akua Konadu
Yeah, we do. So I’m, I’m so just excited of these amazing business owners that are thrilled to come and be able to provide so much value just as we’ve done for season one. So expect the same type of quality content.
Natalie Franke
We know it’s leveled up. It’s Oh, okay. And I’ve seen the lineup is five year yes. And I know you I can’t wait. Well, we
Akua Konadu
built it. You were here. We you know what I mean? Like we talked about who we wanted. And we were like, you know, with season one. It’s been phenomenal. So let’s, let’s shoot for the stars. And so when everything finally was transitioned, I was like, Well, this was the plan. So why would we change it? Like you’ve inspired me to always keep going and just go bigger if you plan or go bigger, go bigger. So that’s what we did. So I’m excited.
Natalie Franke
I’m so excited. And so I can’t wait for folks to listen and tune in. Yeah. And I guess this will be my last time on on the mic as host as I officially pass it over to you.
Akua Konadu
Oh man. Well, thank you. I love you. I love you too. Thanks for listening. That ends our episode of The Independent Business Podcast. Everything we’ve discussed today can be found at [email protected]. Head to our website to access for shownotes relevant links and all the resources that you need to level up. And if you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss our future content. Drop us a review and leave our guests some love on social and thank you again for listening.
