Episode 101: Building Stronger Family Businesses Through Entrepreneurial Thinking

Our guest today is Lisa Ascolese, Founder and CEO of Inventing A to Z. Lisa is an inventor, entrepreneur, mother, grandmother, and the founder of several ventures, including Inventing A to Z, a product development company, and Inventors Spotlight TV, a shopping network designed to help inventors showcase their brands and sell their products. 

Lisa is also the host of The Inventress Podcast, where she offers invaluable insights into inventing, entrepreneurship, and the challenges and triumphs of building a business. She recently became a published author with her book The Inventress’s Guide to Inventing the Right Way: All or Nothing, Now or Never! and has been featured on ABC 7 NY Here and Now with Sandra Bookman to discuss her journey as an inventor and business leader. She has also come out with another book, My Favorite Book of Lullabies, a children's lullaby book with interactive QR codes to have the lullabies play along with the book as the adult reads/sings with Lisa.  

In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Lisa is passionate about empowering women. Lisa is the founder of a nonprofit organization about empowering women called AOWIE, The Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs. She hosts the annual AOWIE Women’s Empowerment Conference, which brings together entrepreneurs for learning, networking, and growth. 

In this episode of Family Business Today, you will learn:

  • What pushed Lisa to begin her inventing journey

  • What resilience and consistency looked like for Lisa as she built her business

  • How she came up with her slogan: “Lifting Each Other Up Two Hands at a Time and Sometimes You Need a Foot”

  • Lisa’s advice for second- and third-generation family businesses when things get hard

  • What Lisa has learned about how to be successful as an entrepreneur

  • And more….

To learn more about Lisa, her business Inventing A to Z, or any of her books, visit https://inventingatoz.com/.  

At the Tennessee Center for Family Business our passion is to help business owners create a positive environment in which their family THRIVES, their business performs and working together they create a lasting family legacy. To learn more about the Tennessee Center for Family Business visit www.tncfb.com.

If you are considering a transition in your family business contact us today for a FREE  Transition Assessment (follow link) and receive a one-on-one review of your business transition preparedness with a family business consultant.

Until next time, There’s No Business Like a Family Business…. We Know!