Valerie Martinelli on Leadership, Resilience, and Building a Business That Works for You Posted on May 11, 2026May 10, 2026 By Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant (small.news) — On May 6, 2026, Valerie Martinelli, CEO of AskVMC, joined our small.talk, sharing how dissatisfaction in her corporate career led her to launch her own consulting business nearly a decade ago. Valerie spoke with Silver Lining Founder and CEO Carissa Reiniger. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, adaptability, and staying current with shifts like AI and changing online search behavior, while advocating for a more equal playing field for small business owners everywhere. Q: Tell us about yourself. A: I am the CEO of Valerie Martinelli Consulting, serving as a career strategist, especially with senior leaders. I support job seekers and help senior leaders develop career strategies and leadership skills. Our discussions often focus on resilience and leadership growth. This work relies on leadership development, emotional intelligence, capacity, resilience, and the ability to overcome challenges. That’s the current climate, and I enjoy it. Top Stories Two Mexican Banks Direct Capital Toward Renewable Energy and Nuevo León’s Small Businesses Two of Mexico’s active commercial lenders announced financing initiatives in the final days of July targeting distinct but strategically significant sectors of the economy — renewable energy infrastructure and small business growth in the country’s leading industrial state, reports Mexico Business News. New Zealand Labor Unveils $1.56 Billion Small Business Package — With a Significant Trade-Off at Its Core New Zealand’s Labor Party has released a small business policy package — costed at $1.56 billion over four years — as part of its 2026 general election platform, reports Business Desk. Krista Monson on Curiosity, Courage, and Turning a Life Well Lived into a Living Legacy On August 5, 2026, Krista Monson, Founder of Sincerely Yours, joined our small.talk to share how a career spanning dance, theatre, Cirque du Soleil, and Madison Square Garden led her to her most personal work yet — helping people preserve their life stories as living memoirs. Q: When did you start it? A: It will be 10 years in July. I started because I was unhappy. I wasn’t thriving, and no one asked, ‘What can we do?’ There wasn’t leadership. It wasn’t there. I had to ask myself, ‘Will I wait forever for happiness here?’ I decided that if happiness wasn’t here, I would find it myself. Why stay unhappy when you can do what you love? That’s what I did. I built a business to make myself happy, help others, and do good. Ten years later, here I am. Q: If there’s a small business owner who is dissatisfied with how hard it is to manage their business… and an executive who is dissatisfied with how frustrating it is to work in their company… is it the same approach to manage that dissatisfaction? Does leadership look the same in both instances? A: I think it’s different because the self-leadership and self-management required aren’t the same. If you’re in a large organization, especially, there’s a lot of politics at play. In a startup, it might be a little different. Navigating internal complexities is essential. Can you handle this environment? Not everyone excels at navigating internal systems or crises. Developing these skills is essential for team, organizational, and crisis management. You have to learn these skills. Some think they’re doing one job, but the role includes hiring, team management, and crisis handling. Q: So, what’s your experience been like as the leader of your own small business? A: I’ve learned that breaks and self-care are vital. To be an effective leader and to show up for others, you must prioritize your own well-being. If you neglect self-care, you show up empty, helping no one. Q: What advice are you giving people? A: We need stamina, but also to know when to step back, when to move forward, and to pick our battles. I don’t see a break coming soon. I hate sounding negative, but that’s the blunt truth. Pushing without rest breeds burnout. Simple as that. Q: Have you started to see any direct impact on your own small business that worries you or that you think we need to be paying attention to? A: One thing that concerns me is AI, not in a fearful way, but because AI can be used for a lot of good and ethically for bad. Unfortunately, I have seen AI used as an excuse for layoffs. For example, companies sometimes cite AI initiatives as a reason to reduce staff. Q: Have you seen real changes in your own business in the last year? A: Well, I know that I use AI, and I do love it. But I see more change. SEO is still important, but now I think more about AO and similar things. I know I need to spend more time on that. Your mind shifts because people’s habits change.t Google? I’m going to go ask Claude. If your business isn’t found with new search methods, you risk losing visibility and revenue. Stay current. Keeping up with these changes is critical. If you fall behind, you risk losing relevance and revenue. Q: If you had a Magic Silver Wand, and you could wave it to make one thing happen for every small business owner in the world… what would you use it for? A: With my background in economic development, I want an equal playing field for all small business owners. An equal playing field empowers everyone. Using our voices, speaking up, and taking action can enhance opportunities. Q: What do you need? A: I am offering monthly workshops to give people opportunities to engage before choosing to work with me or read our content. These workshops are open to anyone and are free. These workshops are monthly. This month’s event is on May 19 at 9 a.m. and is focused on LinkedIn Sales Navigator for business owners. Do you want to shop small? Check out our new buy.small Marketplace! Latest Stories
Two Mexican Banks Direct Capital Toward Renewable Energy and Nuevo León’s Small Businesses Two of Mexico’s active commercial lenders announced financing initiatives in the final days of July targeting distinct but strategically significant sectors of the economy — renewable energy infrastructure and small business growth in the country’s leading industrial state, reports Mexico Business News.
New Zealand Labor Unveils $1.56 Billion Small Business Package — With a Significant Trade-Off at Its Core New Zealand’s Labor Party has released a small business policy package — costed at $1.56 billion over four years — as part of its 2026 general election platform, reports Business Desk.
Krista Monson on Curiosity, Courage, and Turning a Life Well Lived into a Living Legacy On August 5, 2026, Krista Monson, Founder of Sincerely Yours, joined our small.talk to share how a career spanning dance, theatre, Cirque du Soleil, and Madison Square Garden led her to her most personal work yet — helping people preserve their life stories as living memoirs.