Myra Corrello, PhD - Small Business Speaker/Coach

04/09/2026

I LOVE my work. Especially when I get to talk AI to graduating MBA marketing students. What a wild and crazy ride they are about to have. In Dr. Kemp's hands, I know they are being well prepared. I adore our years of collaborations. She is such an innovative marketer and researcher. A major asset to UNO and beyond.

04/06/2026

What a fun afternoon celebrating the 2026 graduates of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Culinary Catapult Program!

Big congratulations to:
Desirae “Desi” Decoux-Stevens – D’Absolute Foodie
Chad Stokes – Patio 17
Helena Carter – Taste of Louisiana
Chris Blanco – Waska NOLA
Sherman Bunch – NeauxLA RolLA

These food entrepreneurs each brought their own style, story, and vision to the program, and it was such a pleasure to watch them grow and pitch their businesses.

And special congrats to our pitch winners: Chris Blanco, Sherman Bunch, and Helena Carter.

And thank you to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation team and board, Capital One, the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, our judges, my program co-facilitator Carmen Sunda, our guest speakers, and everyone who helped make this program possible.

Proud of this group and excited to see what’s next for them!

11/07/2025

✈️ Headed to a Conference Soon?

Read This Before You Rehearse Your Elevator Pitch.

If you’ve got a conference on your calendar this fall, here’s a little reminder: networking isn’t about selling — it’s about connecting.

In my latest Substack column with marketing maven Mallory Whitfield, we answer a question from an early-career AI professional who’s nervous about “practicing his elevator pitch” at an upcoming tech event. (Sound familiar?)

Here’s the truth: the best networkers don’t pitch — they *listen.*
They ask curious questions that uncover what people are really working on, what challenges they’re facing, and where the opportunities might be hiding.

Whether you’re an introvert, a natural talker, or somewhere in between, this article will give you practical ways to:
🌟 Turn small talk into meaningful conversation
🌟 Ask smart questions that open doors
🌟 Follow up in a way that actually leads to next steps

If you’ve ever left a conference with a pocket full of business cards and no real connections, this one’s for you.

👉 Read the full column here:

10/08/2025

Does your business BOOM a few months a year — and go quiet the rest?

If you’ve ever struggled with feast-or-famine seasons, you’ll love our new “Dear Myra & Mallory” column in Substack.

A local florist asked how to build consistent year-round income, and the lessons apply to almost every small business.

We share creative strategies to balance your calendar, partner smarter, and keep clients coming back — even in your slowest months.

Click on the link to read how we are helping one business owner find her path to steady growth. 🌿

Read about it here: https://myramallory.substack.com/p/whats-the-secret-to-consistent-business

09/22/2025

Ever feel like your marketing GPS is stuck on “Recalculating…”? 🌀

If your marketing feels like a road trip without a map, you’re not alone. 🚗💨

If you don’t know how to talk to your buyers in their own language, your marketing GPS will keep rerouting you to nowhere.

Join us on Zoom, Sept 25, from 3:00-4:30 pm CT to:

📍 Find your true destination (more clients + more sales)
📍 Rework your messaging so buyers get it instantly
📍 Use AI as your co-pilot (not your replacement)

One afternoon of clarity can save you months of detours.
👉 Grab your seat: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1625459967519?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/19/2025

I can’t tell you how many times a client has said to me:
“I’ve tried everything — social media, ads, even hiring a marketing person. But nothing works.”

The truth? Their strategy was half-baked.

They had the flour and sugar (effort + budget), but they were missing the yeast: clear messaging and buyer-focused language. Without that, your marketing falls flat.

On Sept 25, Mallory Whitfield and I are teaching a 90-minute live Zoom workshop:
Magnetic Marketing: Strategies to Attract, Connect, and Convert

It’s the full recipe for marketing clarity, with hands-on AI tips you can use immediately.

Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magnetic-marketing-strategies-to-attract-connect-and-convert-registration-1625459967519?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/17/2025

Nothing is more enjoyable and powerful than learning together. So grateful to the dynamic duo Gina Carr and Terry Brock for their dedication to this incredible thought-leader mastermind community.

It's an honor to get to share some of my latest insights and revelations after spending the last year auditing the marketing presence of over 150 small business owners.

If you're a member of the Stark Raving Entrepreneur community, I hope you join us!!

If you're a subject-matter-expert who wants to further monetize your expertise, this is THE group to be apart of. Reach out to me for details.

09/08/2025

Every single week, I talk with small business owners who ask: “Why don’t they buy??”

They’ve invested hard-earned money, time and effort in attractive websites, SEO, social media, even ads — but still aren’t seeing the results, in terms of customer/client sales, they hoped for.

And it breaks my heart, because the problem usually isn’t them… it’s their less-than-optimal marketing foundation. It all starts with strategic positioning and powerful messaging. Everything builds from there.

That’s exactly what Mallory Whitfield and I are tackling in our "Magnetic Marketing" Workshop on Thursday, Sept 25 3:00-4:30 pm CST.

👉 We’ll help you fully clarify your message so your marketing finally pays off the way it should.
👉 Early bird tickets are just $47. Get yours today!
👉 Everyone gets the recording + workbook so you can revisit and share with your team.

📅 Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1625459967519?aff=oddtdtcreator

I’d love to see you there — let’s make your marketing FULLY work for you!

08/21/2025

It’s World Entrepreneurs Day! 🎉

Here's to you brave folks that have taken the plunge! You are the heart and soul of your communities. Thank you for all you do.

If you were to do it all over again - what do you wish you had known earlier? What kind of advice would you give to someone just preparing to launch?

Here are five hard-earned ones I'll share:

1️⃣ Know your WHY — it will carry you through the tough days.
When setbacks come (and they will), your purpose will be the thing that keeps you moving forward. Write it down - all of it. Keep in near you. Re-read it as often as you need to.

2️⃣ Start simple, stay focused — one clear audience, one strong offer.
Trying to serve everyone at once only dilutes your message and drains your energy. Create your first wins - and some leverage - in one thing. And then build from it.

3️⃣ Build money systems early — cash flow and clean books matter.
You don’t have to be an accountant, but you do need clarity and control over your numbers. Reach out to an SBDC and ask for help with your setup. Use their individual counseling and their training workshops. You'll be glad you did.

4️⃣ Use your network — relationships grow faster than ads.
The people who already know, like, and trust you can open doors you didn’t even know existed. Recommendations and referrals from your existing network are essential.

5️⃣ Marketing is not optional — visibility is part of survival.
If your ideal customers can’t find you, they can’t hire you—so make marketing a habit, not an afterthought. Devote some time, daily, to reaching out and following up. Nothing matters more.

👉 Entrepreneurs, I’d love to hear from YOU:
What’s your #1 piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out?

Drop it in the Comments so we can celebrate and encourage the next wave of business builders.

Happy World Entrepreneurs Day to all the bold risk-takers who keep our communities innovative, resilient, and full of possibility! 🌎✨

08/12/2025

Market trends can either disrupt you… or elevate you.

I was recently featured in DevX.com alongside 16 other small business leaders in their article: How to Adapt to Market Trends: Advice from Small Business Leaders.

In my section, I talk about why every entrepreneur should be a student of change — continuously learning, experimenting, and staying in front of market shifts.

I also share the pivot that scared me the most (narrowing my target market) — and how it became the single most transformative move I’ve made.

If you’re navigating change right now, this article is a treasure chest of insights.

📖 Read it here:
https://www.devx.com/business/how-to-adapt-to-market-trends-advice-from-small-business-leaders/

For small businesses to succeed in today’s rapidly changing markets, they have to adapt to trends. We asked industry experts to offer one piece of advice to small business owners who are struggling to adapt to changing market trends. Here is how these experts successfully pivoted their businesses ...

07/31/2025

When You Stop Focusing on ROI… and Start Focusing on Contribution

After 21 years in the National Speakers Association and more than 15 national conferences under my belt, I’ve seen a lot. And to be honest? The longer you’re in the game, the harder it is to walk away from each event with pages of new “aha” strategies.

But this year, I didn’t show up asking “What’s in it for me?”
I asked, “How can I serve?”

I volunteered as a mentor to first-time attendees. I said yes to giving a little lunchtime talk to my favorite sub-group, Power Women of NSA (which turned out to be a ballroom of brilliant women—surprise!).

And what I discovered was something no session handout could deliver:

✨ Conversations that sparked clarity.
✨ Relationships that reignited creativity.
✨ Moments that reminded me why I started this journey in the first place.

Just like I used to do during Mardi Gras in New Orleans—bringing first-timers with me to see it with fresh eyes—I was reminded that sharing what you’ve learned can bring the magic right back to you.

If you’ve been waiting to feel inspired again, maybe it’s not about what you’ll “get” from your next event.

Maybe it’s about what you have to give.

07/25/2025

Thinking about building a new website for your small business?

Choosing the wrong platform can cost you time, money, and SEO traction.

In my newest TSBDC blog feature with Aries Payne, I break down the smart way to choose a platform that fits your business—whether you're launching a simple brochure site or a full-blown online store.

I also share:
✅ One question to ask AI before getting advice
✅ What most developers aren’t telling you
✅ Why using your domain registrar’s website builder could backfire

👉 Read the full blog here:
https://www.sbdc.uh.edu/sbdc/tips-for-choosing-a-website-platform-startups.asp

If you've struggled with your site or are about to build your first one—this one's for you.