Edited by: Vlada Taits
It’s rare to find a pair of sisters who get along like great friends or who can stand to work together voluntarily. But Stacey and Marianna Speranza have managed to do both, and in the process create an amazing podcast made for female leaders of the future – The Business Casual. Read along to learn a bit more about the dynamic duo that you and your sister (or brother, or best friend) are going to be simultaneously inspired by and completely envious of.
Tell us a bit about yourselves!
Stacey: Hi! My name is Stacey and I am a student in the Rotman Commerce program here at UofT! I am specializing in management with a focus in strategy and financial statement analysis. I love health, fitness and all things pop culture. In my spare time, you can find me catching up on YouTube or trying out the latest TikTok trend.
Marianna: Hey, my name is Marianna Speranza. I am a grade 11 student attending The Country Day School. I have a huge passion for computer science and graphic design. When I am not editing the podcast you can find me watching F1 or playing video games.
What inspired you to start Business Casual?
Stacey: I was actually explaining to a career advisor my interest in technology back in May when he asked if I had ever considered starting a podcast! At the time I was considering starting a business or some type of platform and a podcast seemed like the perfect way to combine all my passions together. My sister was more hesitant at first but in the end was the one who pushed me to record our first episode! We both loved the planning stages of The Business Casual and had so much fun creating our branding.
What is it like working with your sister?
Marianna: We love working together. We only have a 3 year age gap so growing up we were always close even though we actually have very different interests. The podcast has allowed us to create so many lasting memories together. From the start of the idea to where we are now has been such an amazing journey.
How do you juggle running your podcast while both being full-time students?
Stacey: I would say organizing and planning is really important for both of us. We plan on a monthly basis and map out what our filming and posting schedule will be on the first of each month. We also always try to stay realistic with each other about what we can and cannot complete, due to school or other commitments. Prioritization is key for time management in general!
What’s the best piece of advice/thing you’ve heard from one of your guests?
Stacey: Natalie Putnam who is the CEO of DeliveryCircle gave a great piece of advice on our first episode. It came from Patrick Lencioni who is an author and the quote was, “be hungry, humble and smart”. In the episode, Natalie explains what that means and how it relates to both business and everyday life. She does a wonderful job of explaining it and it truly is a quote that has always stuck with me.
You recently ran a Christmas fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society of York Region, can you tell me a bit more about that and how you put it together?
Marianna: Our Christmas fundraiser was such a fun initiative that we are so proud of! In November, we decided we wanted to give back to our community while also supporting female run small businesses in the Toronto area. We started by contacting over 50 small businesses and solidified relationships with 15 of them. Each of the 15 businesses donated something to our gift basket and in return, we featured them on our Instagram page! We also filmed an episode with the Director of Programs and client services from the Alzheimer’s Society to launch the initiative. Then, from December 1 through 24th, we raised funds through GoFundMe! Overall we raised over $4000 and were able to curbside deliver the gift basket to the lucky winner on Boxing Day.
What do you imagine for the future of Business Casual?
Stacey: This is such a great question! We honestly started Business Casual with very few expectations and just focused on delivering the best content possible. I would say in addition to uploading more episodes, we really want to use our IG page to post more tips and advice. We really want to start using Reels and TikTok more as well! I truly think the sky’s the limit and I’m so excited to see what the future holds for us!
Clearly, these two are going to do big things, so make sure you follow them to stay tuned to their story. Check out Business Casual on Instagram @business.casual.podcast, their website, and subscribe to them on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!