Listen, Discover, and Share Like Never Before

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Melinda Wittstock, Founder of Podopolo, located in Santa Monica, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Podopolo is revolutionizing podcasting as interactive, personalized, and profitable for creators. The AI-powered platform helps consumers more easily discover (and discuss) podcasts, clips, and playlists around their shared interests while unlocking multiple revenue streams for podcasters to monetize their shows and delivering a targeted interactive on-app/on-air opportunity for advertisers for a much higher and predictable ROI.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a lifelong serial entrepreneur; my first "business" was going door-to-door demanding pre-payments for my "show" at age 5. Podopolo is my 5th significant business as a founder. I've grown several to 8-figure success at the intersection of media and technology. I became a podcaster in 2017 (Wings of Inspired Business was Entrepreneur Magazine's top 20 of 2020 and shares the entrepreneurial journeys of successful female founders) and learned quickly how hard it is for podcasters to grow their reach, engagement, and revenue. I had to create 6 ancillary businesses around my own podcast to monetize it, and most creators don't have that time or inclination. It got me thinking, too, about a broken listener experience. I soon saw that advertisers were leaving money on the table, the fastest-growing media of all time. I saw an opportunity with Podopolo to combine my proven expertise across content, AI, tech, and social media to revolutionize a whole industry and build a Unicorn.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm blessed to have so many, and I could point to exits or many significant milestones, but the most meaningful accomplishment is building incredible teams and enabling the growth of each individual to new heights in all aspects of their life. That, and creating value for customers (who have always been our best evangelists in all my businesses) and making a social impact, is what counts, along with lifelong learning.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I always joke that if you want therapy - become an entrepreneur. The biggest challenges are to do with your own ability to be resilient, nimble, and adaptive in the face of constant change, uncertainty, and things you cannot control. It challenges you to grow as a conscious leader; if you are open to that, you will succeed. Entrepreneurs have to realize there is no straight line to success: You can set sail for your destination, but the winds and currents will change, and you must zig-zag, tack and jib along the way.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Know your market inside out and your customers, everything about them, what keeps them up at 3 am, and be relentless in solving their problems and open to co-creating with them.
It's all about the team. Be uncompromising in hiring A Players and setting them up for success by sharing a clear mission and vision and operationalizing your values (these are not just for the website blurb).
Be prepared to be agile and lean, know-how and when to pivot while staying true to the vision, and make sure you have great mentors and advisors. You are the median of those 5 people you spend the most time with, so get close to people who truly have your back and can help you through all those stressful times.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://podopolo.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/IAmMelindaWittstock/
https://www.facebook.com/wingspodcast/
https://www.facebook.com/PodopoloNetwork/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/melindaannewittstock/
https://www.instagram.com/podopolo/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/melindawings
https://twitter.com/podopolonetwork

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindawittstock/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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