[00:00:00] Hello, and welcome back to Best in the Biz, the pod talking business at CNA. This episode, we have two incredible entrepreneurs, Laura Bell Umba, owner of Laura Bell Umba Consulting, and Kelly Ryan, owner of Nerdy Nutrition Corporate Wellness. Both Laura Bell and Kelly are in the business of advocating for people.
Laura Bell through EDI work, and Kelly through employee health and wellness. Let's find out why best. Putting
Ian: people first is always good business.
Well, thank you very much for coming on
today.
Laurabel: No worries. Thanks for having me.
Of [00:01:00] course. So to get started, please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do.
Laurabel: Not a problem. So my name is Laura Belton Bott. I run Laura Belton Bott Consulting, which is an anti racism and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging consultancy here in Newfoundland, Labrador.
That's awesome. That's really good. Um, that's something at CNA that we're, we're trying to, uh, to do more with. Um, and it is a pillar of our new strategic plan actually.
Laurabel: Oh, cool. That's really good to hear.
Yeah. Yeah. So we were definitely, uh, we're definitely trying to focus more on that.
Laurabel: That's awesome to hear.
Yeah. So we are here at the 2024 NLO conference. So how has it been going so far and what are you looking forward to?
Laurabel: Um, so this is my second time attending the NLO conference and I am so impressed. industry. Last year. I think they have definitely gotten bigger and better and listen to some of the feedback last year as to what would be applicable for entrepreneurs and what we as women in business would need in terms of support services.
Content in [00:02:00] terms of the speakers that were picked, so I'm really excited to see even the increase in diversity also as someone who works in the industry to see the increase in diversity of speakers, both racialized gender identity and diversity in content. So it's been amazing. And I'm really looking forward to day one is almost over.
I'm so excited for day two.
Yeah, no doubt. It's, uh, it's been a great conference so far. I mean, the vibes, the connections, everything's been so high and so good. So many partnerships built even for us here. Uh, so, and we're talking to a lot of great people.
Laurabel: Ah, see, you guys are best seat in the house.
I appreciate it.
Okay. Uh, so what advice do you have for some aspiring entrepreneurs?
Laurabel: Oh my gosh. Oh, that feels real weird to be giving advice. I sometimes feel like an aspiring entrepreneur, but. I think it is, if you have an idea, it clearly means there's a need. So there is, it's going to be scary. Absolutely. Sometimes it might be difficult, but you're going to [00:03:00] never want to look back and say, what if I tried?
So you might not have all the answers, but at least you've noticed as a gap in services, programming product, doesn't matter. You've noticed a gap and you have an idea that can fill the gap. I say, take a step, try it. It doesn't have to be really big when you start, start small, but start and it's worth it.
Yeah. Just that's one of the big circles is getting started. No doubt about it. No, that's great. Um, so a little bit about your business, where can our listeners find out more about your business?
Laurabel: Awesome. So I'm really good at social media right now. It took some work and I listened to the amplify, um, presentation as well.
So, so she definitely gave some tips and tricks and my reels will be better. So when you find me on Instagram, uh, Laura Bomba consulting, hopefully give me a comment. Let me know if my reels are up to. So I can thank her, but you can find me on LinkedIn and you can find me on Facebook and Instagram. Those are the main ones.
And you can always reach out to me on my website. Perfect.
Thank you very much. And uh, thanks again for coming [00:04:00] on and enjoy the rest of your
Ian: conference. Thank you so much for having me. Thank you.
All right.
All right. Well, hi and for joining us here today. Uh, so we'll start out by getting you to tell us a little bit about yourself and also a little bit about your business.
Kelly: So my name's Kelly Ryan and I own, uh, Nerdy Nutrition, where basically I help companies with their health and wellness programs, um, create them, assess them, design them, but then I'll also help them do, uh, Support them through cooking demos, live talks, uh, group coaching, or even help them plan out their year's worth of, uh, health and wellness offerings.
Basically so that they can engage, attract, retain, support their awesome employees.
Fantastic. That's such a big part of a business today is retaining and uh, [00:05:00] trying to get new employees. So having these supports in place is a good way to bring those people in and also keep those people that you have.
Kelly: A hundred percent.
And I mean, the other thing too, is by helping employees with their health and wellness, you're doing a lot of other things like increasing productivity, decreasing absenteeism, presenteeism, um, you're creating a And then your employee, as we know. We're not one person at home and another person at work, you know, so then they can go home and feel good at home and have fun with their family.
Yeah, exactly. They, they can relax a bit and, you know,
Ian: yeah,
yeah, yeah, for sure. So we're here at the Enloe 2024 conference. So, uh, how have you been enjoying it and what are you looking forward to today?
Kelly: I love this conference. Um, last year was my first year. So this is my second year here and I just find everybody here is so, um, uplifting and supportive and [00:06:00] really Uh, you know, I keep saying it's almost like a warm hug.
Yeah, seriously. You know, the energy is just absolutely amazing. So that really is one of my favorite things about coming to the conference. Um, plus everything, it's just really inspiring. And then on top of it, you have all the sessions where I find them very valuable. I just came out of, um, the Lupin financial planning one.
Yeah. There was so much fantastic information there. Um, and each one I'm like, do I go to this one or this one?
They're all so good. You want to go to them all?
Kelly: Yeah.
Yeah. That's so true. Yeah. And a lot of the workshops, it's been some great feedback from a lot of the participants. So it's, it's nice to see.
And like you said, the energy is high here and, uh, there's certainly a sense of community within this organization.
Kelly: There really is. It's amazing.
Yeah, it really is. So, uh, we always ask for some advice to give an aspiring entrepreneur. Uh, what do you have to offer? [00:07:00]
Kelly: You know, When I first started, I mean, it can be scary to become an entrepreneur for the first time.
There's always risk involved, but there's a reason why you're doing it. There's a reason, you know, you have something to offer. You have something to give and get your ducks in a row, but just do it. Like, I look at it like it's my duty. It's my responsibility. Um, I, I have to provide what I can teach to the world and, um, I, I think for all entrepreneurs, it's your duty to give what you can and, you know, you have to roll with the punches a little bit, but, um, You're playing the long game.
You're not, you know, you're probably not going to make a million dollars overnight.
Ian: Yeah,
yeah,
Kelly: right. But look at it as, uh, you're in a marathon, not a race.
There you go. That's a good way to look at it.
Kelly: Yeah. For
sure, because like you said, there's going to be ups and downs along the [00:08:00] way.
Kelly: Yeah.
It's a matter of weathering those punches.
Kelly: Yes, a hundred percent. Yeah, that's
awesome. Um, so where can our listeners find a bit, uh, more information about your business?
Kelly: So I'm pretty much nerdynutrition. ca everywhere. Um, so you can find me, my website is nerdynutrition. ca. Uh, you can also find me on LinkedIn and I would love it if everybody connected with me.
So it's nerdynutrition or Kelly R. Ryan. So that's the two best places to find me.
Perfect! Alright, well, thanks for joining us today, and, uh, hope you have a great rest of your
Ian: conference. Thank you! Awesome, thank you much!
What Laura Bell said, you probably won't ever
feel like you have all the answers. Laura Bell still feels like an aspiring entrepreneur herself, but that's no reason not to go for it. Laura Bell also highlighted the need for diverse representation and content in industry and education. What Kelly [00:09:00] said, by investing in employee health and wellness, you can increase productivity, decrease absenteeism, and create a culture of belonging.
As an entrepreneur, remember, you're in a marathon, not a race. Roll with the punches, and play the long game. Did you know our entrepreneurship hub? Give CNA students, alumni, faculty, and staff free access to business support. Connect with me to learn more. You can connect at cna. nl. ca slash entrepreneurship.
Check back for our next episode October 23rd with Jessica Brown.