Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson: A Creative Collective Podcast
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson: A Creative Collective Podcast
Podcast Description
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she's headed next.
Local economies thrive when women's authentic experiences are shared and celebrated. That's why this podcast goes beyond polished success stories to explore the real challenges, unexpected pivots, and genuine moments of inspiration that shape the entrepreneurial paths of Creative Collective members.
Our guests share candidly about:
Their unexpected paths to entrepreneurship and business ownership
The "messy middles" are rarely seen on social media or marketing materials
How the Creative Collective community supports women's business journeys
Navigating the unique challenges women face in building creative enterprises
Finding their authentic voice and leadership style in their industries
Whether you're a woman entrepreneur yourself, a supporter of women-owned businesses, or simply curious about the women behind local creative enterprises, this podcast offers honest insights into what it really takes for women to build something with intention and heart in today's business landscape.
Produced By:
Randyll Collum produces this podcast for Peabody TV in partnership with Creative Collective. Creative Collective is a business support program that provides modern resources, strategy, and connections for small businesses and creators, because building something meaningful doesn't mean you have to do it alone.
Learn more at creativecollectivema.com.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
This podcast focuses on the journeys of women entrepreneurs, emphasizing the challenges and triumphs they face in building their businesses. Topics include unexpected paths to entrepreneurship, navigating the 'messy middles' of business, community support from Creative Collective, and finding authentic leadership styles. Specific episodes reflect on personal stories of women who have succeeded in creative industries, highlighting the importance of genuine connections.
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she’s headed next.
Local economies thrive when women’s authentic experiences are shared and celebrated. That’s why this podcast goes beyond polished success stories to explore the real challenges, unexpected pivots, and genuine moments of inspiration that shape the entrepreneurial paths of Creative Collective members.
Our guests share candidly about:
Their unexpected paths to entrepreneurship and business ownership
The “messy middles” are rarely seen on social media or marketing materials
How the Creative Collective community supports women’s business journeys
Navigating the unique challenges women face in building creative enterprises
Finding their authentic voice and leadership style in their industries
Whether you’re a woman entrepreneur yourself, a supporter of women-owned businesses, or simply curious about the women behind local creative enterprises, this podcast offers honest insights into what it really takes for women to build something with intention and heart in today’s business landscape.
Produced By:
Randyll Collum produces this podcast for Peabody TV in partnership with Creative Collective. Creative Collective is a business support program that provides modern resources, strategy, and connections for small businesses and creators, because building something meaningful doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.
Learn more at creativecollectivema.com.
In this episode of Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson, we sit down with Alyssa Conary, Membership Director at Creative Collective, for a grounded conversation about what it really means to hold community.
Rather than focusing on growth for growth’s sake, Alyssa reflects on community-centered leadership as a practice rooted in care, consistency, and responsibility. Drawing from her work supporting women entrepreneurs and her involvement with Historic Salem, Inc., she shares how history, place, and stewardship shape the way she approaches leadership—both formally and behind the scenes.
This conversation goes beyond surface-level ideas of connection and explores the quieter labor of maintaining trust, setting boundaries, and making decisions that honor both people and institutions over time. Alyssa offers a thoughtful perspective on sustainability, reminding us that not everything needs to scale—some things simply need to be held well.
What community-centered leadership looks like in practice
How history and place influence modern leadership decisions
Holding institutions, not just moments or momentum
The unseen labor of maintaining trust and sustainability
Why care, boundaries, and pacing are strategic leadership tools
“Community isn’t just about bringing people together. It’s about what you’re willing to hold when people show up as their full selves.”
“A lot of the work I do is invisible. It’s listening, following up, remembering details, and creating a sense of safety people don’t always realize they need.”
“You can’t build trust through systems alone. Trust comes from consistency, presence, and doing what you say you’re going to do.”
“Holding community doesn’t mean carrying it all yourself. It works best when responsibility is shared.”
“People think community is events, but it’s really about relationships — and relationships take care.”
Alyssa Conary is the Membership Director for Creative Collective, where she supports and nurtures a community of entrepreneurs and creatives across the North Shore. Alyssa is known for her human-centered approach to community care, helping members feel welcomed, supported, and connected while strengthening the relationships that make the creative economy thrive. She is also involved with Historic Salem, Inc., bringing a place-based and preservation-minded lens to her leadership work.
Mikki Wilson is the host of Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson and the founder of Dot Connector Consulting. Known for her ability to facilitate meaningful connections, Mikki cultivates conversations that go beyond the brand to highlight the lived experiences, leadership, and “messy middles” behind women’s entrepreneurial journeys.
Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a Creative Collective podcast that goes beyond the brand to explore the authentic journeys of women entrepreneurs in the creative economy. Produced by Randyll Collum for Peabody TV, the series amplifies the voices of Creative Collective members and the moments, motivations, and pivots that shape their work. Sponsored by Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry.
Website: creativecollectivema.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-conary-1b59173b/Email: [email protected]Instagram: @alyssagaconary
Key Topics DiscussedMemorable Quotes About the GuestAbout the HostAbout the PodcastConnect with Alyssa Conary
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