Podcast Summary: Digital Social Hour

Episode: Carly: The Secret to Business Growth Nobody Talks About | DSH #1441
Date: July 10, 2025
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Carly

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode features Carly, a business development specialist and mother based in Las Vegas. She and host Sean Kelly engage in an unfiltered conversation about balancing motherhood and ambition, redefining traditional gender norms in business and parenting, the impact of AI on the workforce, authenticity in business growth, and the true, often unspoken, drivers of sustained business success. Carly offers practical advice derived from her experience in operations, business development, and working in predominantly male industries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Balancing Motherhood and Ambition

• Carly discusses the societal pressure for women to choose between being an ambitious professional or a dedicated mother.
  • “Nowadays, however, there are a group of women that want to do both and you can do both very successfully and it can be very fulfilling in all realms.” (01:19)
• The pushback she’s received, especially from men, about being a “woman in her masculine energy.”
• Fulfillment in both roles:
  • “If you're present with your children, you're present in your business. They flow into each other… Finding fulfillment in both areas allows you to be fulfilled in all.” (02:11)

2. Co-Parenting and Emotional Balance

• Carly and her ex-partner share 50/50 custody, which has improved the children’s relationship with both parents.
  • “They have a better relationship now with their father...that mother, you know, child and father child dynamic is so equally important.” (04:48)
• Emphasizes the importance of having personal fulfillment outside of motherhood to avoid emotional depletion.

3. Self-Employment & The Secret to Business Growth

• Carly recommends self-employment for moms, especially contracting and solving business problems using unique skillsets.
  • “Developing a skill set that solves problems for businesses is extremely important… For me, the number one problem that I solve is the connection aspect. So business development is essentially adult matchmaking.” (07:49)
• Stresses the importance of aligning people and roles based on personality types, using tools like personality tests in hiring.
  • “At the core of a solid operating business, it’s personality types and where someone belongs and operates best in that structure.” (08:17)

4. Authenticity in Coaching and Business

• Critiques the coaching industry’s focus on conversions and marketing over genuine connection and transformation.
  • “You need to focus more on connection more than conversion. If you see a coaching business that’s leading with marketing instead of their mission, that’s a red flag for me.” (09:54)
• Authenticity as key to attracting the right clients and collaborators.

5. The Changing Workforce & AI

• Carly offers a firsthand view of how AI is changing industries, including modeling, where AI-generated models are replacing humans.
  • “All the jobs are going away for every industry... I also do business development for a modeling agency and we see now that human models are ceasing to exist at this point.” (00:53, 11:31)
• Both see AI as both exciting and unsettling, emphasizing the importance of staying engaged and learning to leverage it.
  • “You have to be immersed in it, understand how it works for sure.” (12:08)

6. Parenting Philosophies: Pouring Into Yourself

• On prioritizing personal well-being:
  • “You have to make sure your cup is full before being able to successfully pour into your children. A lot of women are pouring from an empty cup...” (12:48)
• Leading by example is more effective than verbal lessons in teaching children values and habits.
  • “They follow everything that you do, they watch everything that you do.” (13:47)

7. Relationships, Boundaries, and Trust

• Clear boundaries in platonic friendships:
  • “If you have two healthy, secure people, I think you can still have a very platonic relationship.” (17:45)
• Ultimate trust is necessary in romantic relationships:
  • “How are you going to date someone and not trust them? ...if they hurt you, they hurt you. But how are you loving fully if you are still thinking in the back of your mind that they're going to hurt you? That's not love.” (19:34)
• On projecting trauma:
  • “Your partner is not responsible for your past trauma. I think that’s complete. You’re 100% responsible for your own emotions, your own feelings.” (20:01)

8. Emotional Expression in Men

• Rejects the idea that men shouldn’t cry in front of women, calling that “red pill” belief damaging.
  • “As a man, you feel emotions just like every other person in the world. And it’s valid for you to express those emotions.” (21:21)
• Envisions partnership as mutual support for emotional regulation and growth.

9. Social Media & Modern Dating

• Criticizes reliance on internet advice and social media “coaches” for relationship models:
  • “There’s not a mold that fits all. Everyone is so different.” (21:48)
• Self-work is critical before entering a relationship.

10. Working in Male-Dominated Industries

• Confidence and strong communication are essential for women in male-heavy fields:
  • “Because I'm in a male-based… business, I have to be confident. Especially a beautiful woman, men take you for granted and they don't take you seriously.” (28:01)
• Female intuition, according to Carly, is a business advantage:
  • “We have a skill set that men don't possess. The intuition, the nurturing—we can really help nurture a business in ways men can't.” (28:45)
• Celebrates powerful male-female business combos (e.g., Barstool Sports, Alex & Layla Hormozi).

11. Navigating Money and Relationships

• Carly does not look for financial support in a partner, prioritizing emotional stability and personal growth over income or status:
  • “Why would I? We’re both adults. I'm a grown woman. I can provide for myself… if you’re looking at a relationship transactionally like that, it’s very surface level and you’re not going to be able to reach the depth of love that you desire.” (25:28)

12. Building a Career Without a Mentor

• Gained experience through years in startups, learning by doing rather than from formal mentorship.
  • “I worked in startups for years and I developed such a skill set from those experiences that I was like, you know, I'm just gonna work for myself.” (27:24)
• Stresses flexibility in structuring her work to fit her lifestyle as a mom.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On balancing ambition and motherhood:
  • “It's okay to be an ambitious woman and still provide for your children.” – Carly (01:00)
• On personality and business success:
  • “Business development is essentially adult matchmaking.” – Carly (07:53)
• On the real risk in the AI era:
  • “...who knows where the limits at? Who's going to be enforcing, you know, the laws for that and making sure that people are still reputable, authentic people that are operating these businesses.” – Carly (11:48)
• On leading by example for children:
  • “They follow everything that you do, they watch everything that you do.” – Carly (13:47)
• On women thriving in business:
  • “Women have such pivotal intuition that helps businesses grow exponentially.” – Carly (28:44)
• On what she seeks in a partner:
  • “I want a partner. I don’t want someone I need to take care of, or vice versa.” – Carly (24:50)
• On relationships and trust:
  • “If you’re loving fully, you’re not thinking in the back of your mind that they’re going to hurt you. That’s not love.” – Carly (19:34)
• On business structures:
  • “It doesn't matter the industry. It’s all the fundamentals and structures are the same.” – Carly (23:50)
• On confidence as a woman in business:
  • “Because I’m in a male-based… business, I have to be confident.” – Carly (28:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Motherhood & Ambition: 01:10 – 03:13
• Co-parenting/50-50 split: 03:57 – 04:48
• Authenticity in Business / Coaching Critique: 07:49 – 10:33
• Impact of AI: 00:53 – 01:00, 11:31 – 12:08
• The Importance of Pouring into Yourself (Parenting): 12:45 – 13:46
• Platonic Relationships & Setting Boundaries: 16:37 – 19:34
• Trust and Overcoming Past Trauma: 19:34 – 20:46
• Emotional Expression for Men: 20:53 – 21:32
• Business Development Secrets: 23:27 – 24:07
• Working in Male-Dominated Spaces / Intuition Advantage: 28:01 – 29:08
• Closing Words on Growth & Mentorship: 30:14 – 30:44

Closing Reflections

This episode stands out as a candid examination of a modern, multidimensional female entrepreneur’s journey—balancing motherhood, co-parenting, business, and navigating new technological and cultural landscapes. Carly’s perspectives challenge traditional gender expectations and emphasize authenticity, trust, and the irreplaceable value of intuition and connection in both relationships and business.

Find Carly on social media: @carlyonca