Stay ConnectedBehind Her Empire is focused on highlighting self-made women leaders & entrepreneurs and how they tackle their career, money, family and life.
Each episode covers their unique journey and what it really takes to build an empire with key lessons learned along the way. The goal of the series is to empower you to see what’s possible & inspire you to create financial freedom in your own life.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Copyright: © Yasmin Nouri
Lilit Caradanian is the founder and CEO of Elcie Cosmetics, an award-winning cosmetics brand, and Elcientials, a simplified, clean skincare brand.
Lilit had regular 9-to-5 jobs, but she secretly pursued her love for makeup on the side and never thought it could be a real career option. Everything changed when Lilit got laid off from her "dream job" at Disney. It was a wake-up call for her, and she finally decided to follow her passion and open her own makeup studio. Surprisingly, within just a year, her studio became the top makeup school in Los Angeles.
Feeling empowered by her success, Lilit took a big financial risk, self-funded and launched her own cosmetics line called Elcie Cosmetics. It didn't take off right away, but things changed when one of her foundation products went viral. She won the Cosmopolitan Foundation of the Year Award in 2016, and that completely changed the game for her brand, turning it into a multi-million dollar business. From the success of Elicie Cosmetics, Lilit recently decided to launch her own skincare line called Elcientials last year.
In our conversation with Lilit, she reveals the key role social media played in raising awareness for her brand over the years. She also opens up about her relationship with social media, why she decided to delete her Instagram with over 1 million followers and how it directly impacted her business. We also talk about how she’s thought about risk throughout her journey when it came to side hustles and starting her business, especially as the primary breadwinner in her family, and so much more.
* Growing up with limited economic resources and how it’s shaped Lilit's character. [04:20]
* What sparked Lilit’s interest in makeup. [09:17]
* Getting her “dream job” in Disney as the procurement finance role. [14:23]
* Lilit's perspective on being laid off from her job. [15:33]
* Supporting her family while facing the loss of her full-time job. [18:40]
* The parent’s initial reaction on her passion. [25:28]
* Lilit's relationship with social media in the past and how it has evolved over the course of 10 years. [27:22]
* Becoming consumed by social media and reassessing the meaning of influence. [29:11]
* Deleting her Instagram account despite having millions of followers. [30:30]
* The journey of launching a skincare brand. [39:13]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Yasmin:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/
* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/
Follow Lilit:
* Elcie Cosmetics Website: https://elciecosmetics.com/
* Elcie Cosmetics Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elciecosmetics/
* Elcientials Website: https://elcientials.com/
* Elcientials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elcientials/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve spent any time in the health-focused spaces of Los Angeles, you’ve likely heard of Elissa Goodman. From Cafe Gratitude to Erewhon, in addition to her signature cleanses, she delivers nourishment all over the city. We sat down to talk about the health challenges she’s overcome, including cancer and Hashimoto’s, and how she supports her clients today through plant-focused nutrition and mindful living.
In this episode you’ll learn:
* The truth about most green juice
* How to break sugar cravings
* The role of self love in cancer treatment
* Why women have more illness than men
* How to optimize your digestion
Elissa was diagnosed with cancer in her early 30’s and took the alternative route to heal herself. After having her two girls, she was then diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, which she was able to put into remission too. Her husband was diagnosed with cancer at 43 and lost his battle a year and a half later. Elissa decided it was time to take her health more seriously and became an Integrative Holistic Nutritionist.
Fast forward several years, and she has helped thousands of clients manage their health issues. Elissa has created several successful cleanses with Cafe Gratitude and M cafe, including her own delivered EG Kitchen Cleanse in Los Angeles and her digital 7-Day RESET cleanse. Her Super Seed Bars from the Cleanse are sold online nationwide. Elissa published a best-selling book called Cancer Hacks, and she is currently working on her second book about pronging and how to physically, emotionally, and spiritually cleanse to live a vibrant and thriving life. Her mission is to educate and encourage healthy, mindful living and helping others embrace the concept that we are products of what we eat and how we treat ourselves!
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Yasmin:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/
* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/
Follow Elissa:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elissagoodman/
* Website: https://elissagoodman.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alicia Yoon is the Founder and CEO of the leading Korean skincare brand, Peach & Lily. She joins us to share how her own skincare journey led her to study K-beauty alongside chemists in Korea and make innovative, gentle, and effective Korean-inspired beauty solutions available to all. Today, Peach & Lily is on track to become the number five skincare brand at Ulta Beauty, but it wasn’t always that way. Alicia gets candid about the highs and lows along the way, including a moment when she had $7 in her bank account due to self-funding the business’s growing needs.
In our episode together, she offers an honest insight into her experience of starting a self-funded business with no plan from her apartment. She also opens up about the first business she started in the fashion industry and the biggest mistakes and lessons she learned there. Alicia also talks about common myths about starting a business, including the characteristics you need to truly succeed as a business owner, and reveals what motivated her to take the leap from a full-time role in finance to starting Peach & Lily in 2012.
We talk about some of the things she needed to unlearn from her corporate background to thrive as an entrepreneur, and Alicia equips listeners with some dos and don'ts for starting a business. We touch on cultural hurdles she has faced and how she turned them into her biggest advantage in the business world, along with the emotional journey behind the scenes. Alicia also touches on how becoming a parent has made her into a better entrepreneur and an expert at prioritizing what matters most in life and business.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Alicia about:
* The qualities Alicia believes are necessary to successfully start a business. [03:00]
* Why it’s necessary to build an effective business model before taking the leap into entrepreneurship. [05:03]
* Two moments of culture shock that Alicia experienced growing up. [07:56]
* Cultural hurdles Alicia faced in the working world. [11:01]
* What she needed to unlearn from corporate finance to succeed as an entrepreneur. [15:22]
* Alicia’s journey of caring for her own skin with severe eczema. [19:03]
* The moment she first became passionate about helping others to take control of their skin. [23:03]
* What pushed her to take the plunge and start her business. [26:30]
* How Alicia approached planning for her business financially. [33:35]
* Alicia’s emotional journey with the business. [39:21]
* Hacks for building momentum. [44:30]
* How having kids has impacted Alicia’s life. [52:27]
* Advice Alicia would give to her younger self. [56:38]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Alicia:
* Alicia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciayoon212/
* Peach Slices on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peach_slices/
* Peach & Lily: https://www.peachandlily.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ever wonder if your bloating is normal? Or how much gas is TOO much?! Today, we have answers. Join us in this lively discussion as we dive into the realm of bodily functions with Dr. Mary Pardee, who specializes in gut health and longevity.
In this episode you’ll learn:
* How to know if your bloating is normal
* TOP foods to feed your microbiome
* What to do when you’re constipated
* The impact of STRESS on our digestion
* Good news for coffee lovers
* Things a gut doctor would NEVER do
* And more…
Dr. Mary Pardee is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor and a Certified Functional Medicine Doctor who specializes in integrative approaches to gut health and longevity in Los Angeles, California. She is the founder of modrn med, a telemedicine company that provides medical and health services to patients from the comfort of their homes. For those who can not work one-on-one with a modrn med practitioner, Dr. Mary also created a gut-health course that dives into the most common gut related complaints and natural solutions to start healing.
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Dr. Pardee:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.marypardee/
* Modrn Med Website: https://www.modrnmed.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Colleen Wachob is the co-founder and co-CEO of mindbodygreen, a digital media and lifestyle brand at the forefront of the wellness movement. Mindbodygreen garners more than 15 million monthly unique users today, and Colleen and her husband pioneered the concept before wellness was even a “thing”. She describes herself as an unlikely entrepreneur and shares her approach to how we can prioritize wellness in the busy world we live in.
In this episode, Colleen shares her near-catastrophic event that made her realize she had to get in tune with her body, and her unlikely introduction into the world of entrepreneurship after spending a decade at Fortune 500 companies like Gap, Walmart and Amazon. Colleen shares her perspective on managing stress and navigating self-worth as an entrepreneur after working in the corporate world. She is deeply motivated by her own experience and process of healing and discovery, and she has recently co-authored a book, The Joy of Wellbeing, with her husband to pass along the tools she has learned along the way.
If you’re seeking direction, looking to avoid burnout, or interested in a different approach to cultivating self-worth, joy, health, and happiness, this episode is perfect for you!
In this episode, we’ll talk to Colleen about:
* Colleen’s complicated relationship with risk and why she is the least likely entrepreneur. [02:56]
* How Colleen approaches stress management in her life. [07:12]
* The inflection point in Colleen’s early 30s that changed everything for her. [10:20]
* What it took to tune in to her body and start to listen to its signals. [16:43]
* The next steps she took in her career following the incident. [18:52]
* What it was like to start in the wellness industry before it launched. [21:26]
* Staying grounded and excited while the goalposts in your business move. [26:24]
* Navigating self-worth as an entrepreneur. [28:12]
* Raising children as an entrepreneur. [31:33]
* The book she has recently published with her husband, The Joy of Wellbeing. [34:15]
* How Colleen learned to leverage the power of breath and how you can too. [37:40]
* Sleep and anxiety and how the book explores this. [38:55]
* Chapters of the book that excited Colleen and her husband most. [40:44]
* Dr. Lisa Miller’s work around spirituality and the parent. [42:45]
* Advice for mouth taping. [47:10]
* The one thing Colleen and her husband want people to be flexible about. [48:00]
* Integrating wellness after becoming a mom. [49:21]
* Advice for people who are feeling overwhelmed by their wellness journey. [50:48]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Colleen:
* Colleen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenwachob/
* Mindbodygreen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindbodygreen/
* Mindbodygreen website: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In our fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook the importance of finding stillness amidst the chaos. Yet, by exploring the depths of meditation and truly being with ourselves, we unlock a treasure trove of benefits that extend far beyond the realms of calmness and serenity. Our guest expert, Kimberly Snyder shares how it wasn't until she found presence within herself that she finally healed her chronic digestive issues, acne and anxiety.
In this episode you’ll learn:
* How meditation and stillness can help balance hormones
* The TRUTH about lasting confidence and how to create it
* What deep self-love looks like and its impact on health
* The MISSING PIECE to manifestation that makes you magnetic
* What ancient texts teach us about true well-being
Kimberly Snyder is a multiple time New York Times bestselling author, spiritual and meditation teacher, international speaker, nutritionist, and wellness expert. She has authored 6 books, including Radical Beauty, which she co-authored with Deepak Chopra. Her highly anticipated 6th book, You Are More Than You Think You Are: Practical Enlightenment for Everyday Life, (Hay House) recently published in paperback (January 2023).
She is also the founder of Solluna®, a holistic lifestyle brand that offers supplements, meditations and courses, Practical Enlightenment Meditation,™ and the host of the top-rated Feel Good Podcast on the Podcast One Network.
She has worked with dozens of top celebrities to feel their best, including Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington and Channing Tatum, and is regularly featured by numerous national media outlets, including Good Morning America, The Today Show, The New York Times, Ellen, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal. Kimberly resides in Los Angeles and Hawaii with her husband and children.
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Kimberly:
* Website: https://mysolluna.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kimberlysnyder/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Julian Addo is the Founder and CEO of Adwoa Beauty, an award-winning textured hair-care brand.
Originally from Monrovia, Liberia, Julian and her family relocated to New York in 1982. She began her career as a stylist during her teenage years, working hard to support her family and make ends meet. Eventually, she became a successful salon owner but made the unexpected decision to venture into the banking industry, leaving her salon behind.
In 2012, Julian launched her own beauty blog, Bella Kinks, as a passion project. While maintaining her full-time corporate job, she built relationships within the beauty industry and established partnerships with key companies. However, it was when Julian faced a layoff from her banking career that she saw an opportunity for change.
Inspired by disruptive direct-to-consumer companies like Glossier and Warby Parker, Julian noticed a significant lack of innovation in the natural and textured hair sector. Never in a million years did Julian think she’d start her own brand but after many rejections on the idea, she felt strongly to get the concept out there. In 2017, her natural hair care line Adwoa Beauty was born.
In our interview with Julian, she reveals how she reignited her passion for beauty after years in the corporate world, sharing the step-by-step process of launching her brand without outside funding and the realities of starting a business from her living room. Julian how she acquired her first customers, built brand awareness, and secured a game-changing partnership with Sephora. We also talk about her fundraising experience, what she learned about raising money, her plans for the next phase in her business, and so much more.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Julia about:
* Tracing the roots of Julian's self-belief and her advice to others for pursuing their dreams. [03:01]
* Julian talks about her family's arrival in New York, and her reflections on this period. [08:22]
* The first job that Julian had at a salon and the lessons she learned at a young age. [15:47]
* Work in the corporate sector and some of the benefits of working in banking. [21:59]
* How Julian pivoted back into the beauty industry and focused on the natural hair space. [27:27]
* Julian's natural curiosity and tendency to always ask questions. [38:10]
* The product development and testing processes for Adwoa Beauty. [45:53]
* Launching and distributing Adwoa Beauty products early on. [49:50]
* How Julian aligned and partnered with Sephora. [52:29]
* Finding the right people to work with and the support that is accessible to new brands. [56:48]
* The evolution of Julian's fundraising process. [1:02:20]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Julian:
* Website: https://www.adwoabeauty.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adwoabeauty/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What do anxiety, brain fog and low libido have in common? It turns out, the food we eat can impact all of the above. In this week’s Hormone Happy Hour, we sat down with Harvard Nutritional Psychiatrist AND trained chef, Dr. Uma Naidoo. We discuss the connection between our gut and brain + the many levels at which we are impacted by what’s on our plates.
In this episode you’ll learn:
* How what we eat impacts our mental health
* The TOP foods to eat for better brain function
* How culture impacts the mental health conversation
* One type of food Dr. Uma ALWAYS travels with
* Advice for parents to help kids eat more whole foods
* How NOT to stress yourself out over food
And more…
Dr. Uma Naidoo is a Harvard trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutritional biologist & author of the national & international bestseller: “This is Your Brain on Food.” Michelin-starred chef David Bouley described Dr. Uma Naidoo as the world’s first “triple threat” in the food and medicine space as the nexus of her interests have found their niche in Nutritional Psychiatry.
Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first and only hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the USA. She is the Director of Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.
She serves as a regular media contributor at CNBC and is on the Harvard Health Publishing Editorial Advisory Board. She is currently developing the first and only CME based educational program at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard to educate other clinicians globally about nutrition for brain health. Dr. Uma has appeared as a Nutritional Psychiatry expert on Live with Kelly & Ryan, Today Show, 700 Club, ABC, and been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Thrive Global, Harpers, Shape, Parade, Boston Globe, AARP, and more.
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Dr. Uma:
* Website: https://umanaidoomd.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drumanaidoo/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Heela Yang is the co-founder and CEO of Sol de Janeiro, an award-winning body care line that aims to capture the beautiful and vibrant energy of Brazilian culture.
The path to running a successful business and a life in entrepreneurship can look many different ways, and today's story is a particularly unique one. Heela had a picture-book corporate career, a great life in New York, and a bright future that seemed quite clear. It took falling in love, moving to Brazil, and some major moments of inspiration and epiphany to completely upend this!
Heela was in awe of the empowered ethos of the women in Brazil, who seemed so celebratory and confident in their own skin; it was this that Heela wanted to bring to the beauty industry, and that is exactly what she did with Sol de Janeiro.
The brand launched in 2016 with the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and became Sephora’s best-selling skin care cream a few months after its launch. They have now expanded to include fragrance and haircare, and are bringing in over $100 million in revenue.
In our chat today, we get to hear it all from Heela, as she talks about falling pregnant immediately after moving to Brazil, her early years in South Korea before her family moved to the US, what self-belief means to her, and the importance of finding the right partners and support system on your journey. We also get into some interesting thoughts on meditation, mental health, the importance of staying true to your gut when building an authentic & unique brand, and so much more!
In this episode, we’ll talk to Heela about:
Overcoming hurdles in order to truly believe in yourself; Heela's advice. [2:50]
The impact of Heela's upbringing and early years in South Korea. [7:13]
Reflections on the important period when Heela's life changed, and she met her husband. [11:16]
How Brazilian culture began to rub off on Heela and her self-confidence. [14:15]
The first steps in starting a company and Heela's mindset at the time. [18:52]
Why developing a mission for a brand is central to its success! [20:23]
Creating the first product and building everything from the bottom up. [23:13]
The timeline for launching the brand and getting involved with Sephora. [26:34]
The connection between business and pregnancy, and advice from Heela for managing both. [31:56]
Heela's meditation practice and how it has helped her in multiple ways. [36:17]
Sol de Janeiro's partnership with L'Occitane, and how this has leveled up the business. [37:53]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Heela:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soldejaneiro/
* Website: https://soldejaneiro.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When it comes to our hormones, there’s a lot to consider — we covered a wide breadth of those topics in our conversation with Dr. Paria Vaziri. From mold exposure to thyroid function and gut health, we explore root causes to common symptoms and what you can do about it today.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Dr. Paria Vaziri is a licensed naturopathic doctor practicing in the state of California. Her main passion revolves around women's health. After years of struggling with her own menstrual cycles, gut health, and anxiety, without any relief, she found the power of natural medicine and it changed her life and career.
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Dr. Paria:
* Website: https://www.doctorparia.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor.paria/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
