17. The Neuroscience of Business: Why Women Wait While Men Take Action with Olenka Cullinan

Side Note The Podcast: Business, Spirituality & Success for Women Entrepreneurs

Why do women wait until their plans are perfect to take the leap, while men charge ahead with half-baked ideas?

I sat down with powerhouse entrepreneur Olenka Cullinan for a mind-bending conversation about the science behind why women and men approach business completely differently. From accidentally landing a Costco deal through a viral video to running multiple successful ventures while prioritizing family time, Olenka breaks down how our brain chemistry shapes everything from networking to negotiation.

What fascinates me most? The revelation that women have double the neural connections between brain hemispheres compared to men – explaining why we excel at team leadership but often hold ourselves back from taking big swings. Olenka shares how her journey from Eastern European "good girl" to boundary-setting business leader required completely rewiring deeply ingrained patterns.

You'll discover why men pitch ideas on napkins while women wait for perfection, how to identify childhood patterns blocking your growth, and practical strategies for building a thriving business without sacrificing balance. This conversation goes way beyond typical business advice to explore the psychology and neuroscience of success.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How brain structure differences impact male vs female business approaches

• Why women wait for "perfect" while men pitch on napkins

• Strategies for breaking free from "good girl" syndrome

• The psychology behind finding true work-life balance

• Navigating major retail partnerships as a startup

👉Listen to the episode How to Balance Masculine and Feminine Energy in Business and Life

About your host: Samantha Fackler is an Executive Leadership Coach and Marketing Advisor who transforms how women entrepreneurs grow a freedom-based business. After scaling 100+ companies over 12+ years with both Fortune 500 companies (think Apple, PayPal, LinkedIn) and early-stage founders, she brings a rare blend of corporate strategy and holistic leadership to help you scale intentionally. Her approach? Building aligned, profitable businesses without the burnout narrative. Because success shouldn't cost you your wellbeing.

Watch: HOW TO SCALE Masterclass Replay (FREE for a limited time)

Free Guide: Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make in Marketing (& How to Fix Them)

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Website: www.growwithsam.com

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Have a transformation story worth sharing? Top-tier women entrepreneurs can apply to be a guest at sidenotepod.com.

About Olenka Cullinan the CEO of iStartFirst, C-suite global consultant, business development strategist, and renowned speaker. With over 15 years of experience in scale strategy and operations, Olenka has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Business Coaches to Watch (Yahoo News, 2021), among the Top 100 Women to Watch (Women’s Business Journal, 2019). Since 2010, Olenka has pioneered the “GPS of Success”™ methodology, empowering over 500 C-Suite leaders and Founders to elevate their business and mindset, while achieving scalable growth. Her impact spans 22 countries, guiding brands and executives worldwide. She is a TEDx speaker, a two-time Amazon best-selling author, and has delivered over 750 workshops and keynotes for top companies and CEO-focused organizations worldwide.

Website: https://istartfirst.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olenka-cullinan-7872b657/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olenkacullinan/