Risky Business? Founder Megan Ragsdale on Launching Risky, Inc.

Welcome Megan! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

Megan Ragsdale, founder of Risky Inc., Inc., and author of “Risky Women: How to reach the top levels of leadership or know when to get the hell out,” is an executive coach, thought leader and C-Suite veteran with more than 20 years in the trenches with brands like Hulu, Dollar Shave Club, Deloitte, Motorola, SONY and The North Face. With a winning record in scaling businesses for investment and building high performing teams and cultures, Megan’s greatest strength is meeting people where they’re at while building a path to what’s possible. Risky Inc. has one goal – to get more women leading at the highest levels of organizations – corporations, small businesses, and startups. When women lead, businesses are more profitable, innovative, and sustain stronger cultures. Risky Inc. is betting on women to change the way we do business today and create a new workplace paradigm where all women can lead from the top.

So Megan, what excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

Helping women build their businesses while using them to help me build mind

What made you realize it was time to take the leap to start your own business?

This was the second time around for me – I got sick and tired of the BS I kept seeing my women coaching clients dealing with, and how inequitable funding is for women businesses.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I was a “hired gun” for corporations looking to scale for investment, called in to build and fix high performing executive teams, background in innovation, talent management and exec coaching.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entreprenista?

Since I was a child 🙂 I was sending companies my ideas for new products in Kindergarten.

When first launching a business, initial marketing strategy is key! What was your initial marketing strategy when you launched Risky, Inc.?

I launched after getting laid off at 8 months pregnant with my first child. It was a soft WOM launch, and I never had to do any marketing thankfully. It was slow and steady, which was the pace I was needing as a first time mom.

Entreprenistas are resilient. What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way?

Always be selling, and don’t neglect your network – especially when you don’t need them. Network anyway.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

Writing my first book.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

No – I believe in trade-offs. I have a great exercise for people that helps compare how you’re spending your time today versus how you’d like to spend it in the future based on your needs and goals.

What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?

To take more risks.

Megan, you have lots to celebrate! What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

The publication of my new book is my biggest celebration right now. To know it’s helping people make big moves is so gratifying.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Right now it’s all about getting the content out there. Hopefully that will lead to a podcast and a Ted talk!

 Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!