How To Break Free From The 9-5 and Build a Life of Freedom | Leslie Levito | Entrepreneur & Business Coach

Leslie Levito has lived the “dream job” life , from running a skate shop to climbing the corporate ladder, but she realized the real dream was designing her own life. Today, she’s a business coach, entrepreneur, and co-founder of CutClass, helping people break free from traditional jobs and create businesses that align with their vision, values, and goals. We talk about her journey from action sports to the c-suite, the moment she knew it was time to leave, and the systems she’s built to support both business growth and personal freedom. Leslie shares the mindset shifts that made it possible to recover from bankruptcy, why she believes anyone can improve 1% every day, and how those small, consistent actions add up to massive change. Chapters: 00:00 Thank you for being a yes 01:20 From skate shop beginnings to corporate life 03:15 Riding the action sports wave 05:45 Lessons learned during the recession 08:10 Moving from employee to entrepreneur 10:30 The birth of CutClass and helping others launch 13:05 Recovering from bankruptcy and bouncing back 15:45 The 1% improvement philosophy 18:20 Building systems for freedom and flexibility 21:00 Balancing multiple businesses and life roles 23:15 Using creativity to solve business problems 26:40 Finding clarity in your vision and goals 29:10 How to know when it’s time to leave your job 31:25 Advice for new entrepreneurs starting out The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices